Kenya has experienced a sharp decline in its standing on the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI), dropping 17 places to 46th out of 54 African nations. This comes despite President William Ruto’s announcement earlier this year of a “visa-free policy” for African visitors.
The ranking, which evaluates African countries based on their visa policies, highlighted that Kenya’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system has created additional hurdles for travelers. While it was initially presented as a visa-free system, critics argue the ETA resembles a visa in many aspects, undermining the spirit of regional integration and accessibility.
A Visa-Free Policy in Name Only?
In January 2024, President Ruto declared Kenya open to all Africans, positioning the move as a step toward promoting pan-African unity. However, the ETA system introduced as part of this policy now requires most African travelers to apply online for pre-authorization before entering Kenya. The application process, which takes up to three days, has been labeled as “a visa under another name” by critics, including Kenyan entrepreneur Gina Din.
“The ETA isn’t progress—it’s still a visa, adding another bureaucratic layer and making travel to Kenya harder, not easier. Time for a serious rethink on accessibility,” Din said.
The AVOI report echoed these sentiments, stating that the ETA has reduced Kenya’s openness score. Before the ETA’s introduction, over 40 countries—many in Africa—enjoyed simpler entry requirements, such as on-arrival visas or free access.
Challenges and Security Concerns
Kenya’s government defended the ETA system as a necessary measure to bolster national security. “Terrorism is one of the global threats at the moment, so we need mechanisms to ensure everyone who is coming to Kenya is [not a risk] to the country,” a government spokesperson said. This is particularly significant given Kenya’s history of attacks by al-Shabab militants from neighboring Somalia.
Still, critics like Mohamed Hersi, a prominent hotelier and former chairman of the Kenya Tourism Federation, believe the ETA system contradicts the visa-free promise and complicates travel.
Tourism Numbers on the Rise
Despite the controversy, Kenya’s tourism sector has shown resilience. The Kenya Tourism Board reported over one million international visitors in the first half of 2024, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. However, questions remain about the long-term impact of the ETA on African travelers, particularly those from non-East African Community (EAC) nations who must pay a $30 fee for a single-entry ETA valid for 90 days.
Regional Comparisons
The 2024 AVOI placed Benin, Rwanda, Seychelles, and The Gambia at the top of its rankings for visa openness. These nations allow Africans to enter without a visa, setting benchmarks for the continent’s aspirations of seamless integration.
In contrast, countries like Sudan, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Eritrea remain at the bottom of the index.
The Way Forward
The AVOI findings have reignited calls for Kenya to revisit its policies. “Kenya must align its visa policies with its vision for regional integration and ease of travel,” said Joy Kategekwa, a director at the African Development Bank Group. She urged African nations to remove barriers to intra-African travel, emphasizing that true progress lies in simplifying movement across borders.
As Kenya grapples with balancing security concerns and its ambition for pan-African unity, the debate over the ETA system underscores a broader challenge: how to harmonize policies with the continent’s integration goals while safeguarding national interests.
TheDotNews