Kenya has scrapped its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for citizens of nearly all African nations, except Somalia and Libya, citing security concerns. The move aims to promote regional integration, boost tourism, and support open skies policies. The ETA, introduced as a replacement for visas, had faced criticism as being a “visa under another name” and was blamed for Kenya’s drop to 46th on the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index. Under the new policy, most African visitors can stay in Kenya for up to two months without requiring a visa. On the other hand, East African Community members would be allowed to stay for up to six months in line with the bloc’s policy. Nairobi’s move aligns with a broader African Union push for continent-wide travel facilitation, with nations like Ghana and Rwanda already adopting similar policies.
Source: BBC