(NAIROBI) – When Kenya joined Rwanda, Ghana, Gambia, and the Seychelles in lifting visa requirements for African and Caribbean citizens, it hoped to strengthen the African Union’s vision of free movement across the continent. Instead, the rollout of its electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system quickly triggered complaints and confusion.
Travellers were required to apply for the eTA at least 72 hours before boarding and pay a $30 fee, equivalent to about 138,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) at the official July 2025 exchange rate. But delays and crashes on the eTA system stranded travellers and undermined Kenya’s goals. These setbacks pushed Kenya down to 46th place in the African Visa Openness Index, 20 places below its original position.
Six months later, Kenya is making a complete turnaround. From July onwards, nearly all African nationals can now enter Kenya without applying for an eTA or paying visa fees so long as they have a valid passport. Only Somalia and Libya remain excluded from the new policy.
However, Kenya’s visa free generosity has not been widely matched. Kenyans themselves continue to face visa restrictions in much of Africa. According to the principle of reciprocity in international relations, countries should offer the same visa access they receive. This is not happening, and the lack of reciprocity is weakening progress under AU protocols for free movement, trade, and regional integration.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi acknowledged the gap, saying Kenya is taking the lead but urged other African nations to open up too.
“Visa restrictions have long been a barrier to intra-African travel, trade and cultural exchange. We are telling African countries you are free to visit us. We also want to visit you,” he said.
President William Ruto had initially introduced the eTA by describing Kenya as “home” for all Africans. Yet the poor implementation and lack of response from fellow African nations have drawn attention to how unbalanced African mobility remains.
George Mucee, an immigration lawyer, noted that global immigration relies on mutual benefit. He added that countries must assess whether applying reciprocal visa restrictions would cause more harm than good, especially in terms of foreign direct investment and tourism revenue.
“It is not as easy to impose equal barriers on countries like the US or UK because of our weaker negotiating power. We engage based on our national interest,” Mucee explained.
Kenya’s current position builds on a January 2025 initiative that allowed visa free entry for stays of up to 60 days if visitors applied through the eTA system. The new update removes even that requirement for most African travellers.
Despite Kenya’s efforts, the African Union’s broader goal remains far from reality. As of July 2025, 32 African countries have signed the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, but only four have ratified it. Fifteen ratifications are needed before it can become law.
In East Africa, Kenyans enjoy relatively free travel, but reciprocity is still poor compared to other blocs. According to the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index, the East African Community (EAC) has a reciprocity rate of just 54 percent, mainly due to Somalia’s visa-on-arrival requirement for all nationalities.
Currently, Kenyans still need visas to enter more than 20 African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, and others. This creates obstacles to trade, tourism, and diplomacy.
Mucee stressed that visa free access could give Kenya an edge. “We host UN offices and other international agencies, so being visa-free makes us more attractive to travellers, especially for tourism and conferences,” he said.
However, open borders bring security concerns. Authorities worry about transnational crime and illegal migration. Still, Mucee said these risks can be managed using technology like the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), which allows security agencies to screen travellers before they arrive.
“With APIS, we can manage threats while still supporting free movement,” he added.
While East Africa continues to lag, West Africa’s Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leads the continent in reciprocity, with 99 percent of member states offering mutual visa free access. Despite political challenges in the Sahel region, ECOWAS remains a model for integration.
The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) of five North African countries has also improved, reaching 70 percent reciprocity since 2023. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) remains steady at 60 percent.
Kenya’s move has inspired others. Ghana recently endorsed the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, aimed at removing visa restrictions for all African citizens. The campaign, launched on 10 July by Ghana’s Foreign Ministry and led by former MP Ras Mubarak, praises Kenya’s policy and urges other nations to follow suit.
“Kenya has set a powerful precedent by removing barriers,” Mubarak said. “It is time for the rest of Africa to reciprocate.”
