Ruto-Kenya to abolish visa requirements for all Africans

Piece by: MAUREEN KINYANJUI
News

• The move is aimed at boosting trade with African countries.

William Ruto
Image: The-Star

Visas will no longer be required for Africans planning trips to Kenya in 2024. President William Ruto made this announcement on Saturday in Brazzaville, Congo, during his keynote speech at the Three Basins Climate Change Conference.

"By the end of this year, no African will need a visa to enter Kenya. The time has come to understand the importance of doing trade between us," he said.

According to the Head of State, the action is intended to increase trade with African nations.

The African Continental Free Trade Area will be implemented more quickly if customs tariffs are lowered inside the continent, according to President Ruto, who also noted that the low rate of intra-African trade.

"It is time we realize the importance of trading among ourselves and allowing goods, services, people and ideas to move freely across the continent," he explained.

Ruto emphasised that the elimination of tariffs and visa requirements had resulted in a notable increase in trade between the nations that make up the East African Community.

He stated that a wise response to climate change is to recognise and reward nations located in tropical forest basins for their efforts to preserve their forests.

Kenya eliminated the need for visas for Angolans last week.

President William Ruto warned the African delegates attending the African Private Sector Dialogue Conference on Free Trade in May that it might be the last time they have to pay for visas to enter the nation.

The government of August announced that visitors will be able to enter the nation without a visa, making it the third country to do so in that month.

Citizens of Senegal and Comoros were granted entry into the nation without a visa in July.

Eritrea and Kenya decided to permanently do away with their nationals' need for visas in February of this year.

To promote trade between Kenya and Djibouti, the two countries pushed for a visa-free regime in June.

Also, a new visa-free agreement between the two nations allowed Kenyans with regular passports admission to South Africa without the need for a visa.

In November 2022, the President announced that an agreement had been reached with the involvement of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

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