President William Ruto has said by 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country.
He was speaking on Tuesday during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Park.
“It is a great pleasure, as the President of this country to make a historic announcement of the decision of the Government of Kenya,” he said.
“From January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country.”
President Ruto said that Kenya is the home of humanity, a scientific fact that fills us with pride and emphasizes our rich heritage.
Because of this, he said it will no longer be necessary for anyone from any corner of the world to bear the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya.
“To repeat the Turkana people’s call to the world: “Tobong’u Lorre!” Kenya has a simple message for humanity: Welcome Home! This is why, the government has abolished visa requirements for all our visitors,” he said.
Ruto further said that in order to implement the new policy, they have created a new digital system.
The digital system will ensure all travelers to Kenya are identified in advance on the electronic platform
“All travelers will get an electronic travel authorization,” Ruto said.
President Ruto on December 9, during the Connekt Africa Youth Conference maintained that Africa should end visa requirements for its citizens.
He said the visa requirements were brought by European countries that have abandoned them.
Ruto explained that Kenya as a country fully supports the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the African continent which aims to create a market without borders for African entrepreneurs and businessmen.
“I am very convinced and we all know what countries without borders have done, the people who taught us visas because we do not have visas, our good brothers from Europe came and taught us visas and I addressed the European parliament a few weeks ago,” Ruto said.
Abolishing visa requirements, the President said, will further promote economic cooperation in this continent.
He said the European Parliament said that despite Europe having 450 million people, they have canceled visas for 27 countries.
“Tell me why we should continue to have visas in our continent when those who taught us about visas have abandoned them,” Ruto added.
