South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has credited the visa-free travel arrangement between Kenya and South Africa with strengthening relations between the two countries, recalling how President William Ruto pressed for the agreement during his state visit to Nairobi in 2022.
“Much as I felt you twisted my arm, I think it was a good twisting of the arm because both countries are benefitting now,” Ramaphosa told Ruto during a joint media briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
South Africa agreed to lift visa requirements for Kenyan travellers in November 2022, shortly after Ruto assumed office and hosted Ramaphosa in Nairobi.
The arrangement took effect on January 1, 2023, granting Kenyans visa-free access to South Africa, a privilege already enjoyed by South Africans visiting Kenya.
The move marked a significant shift in bilateral relations.
For nearly three decades after the restoration of diplomatic ties with post-apartheid South Africa, Kenyan travellers faced costly and restrictive visa requirements that business groups frequently cited as a barrier to trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Ruto, however, joked that the agreement may have benefited South Africa more than Kenya.
“When I was asking for this arrangement, I didn’t know it would benefit South Africa more than Kenya,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
The Kenyan leader noted that while more Kenyans are now travelling to South Africa, South African companies continue to expand their footprint in Kenya.
“More Kenyans are travelling to South Africa, but there are more South African businesses investing in Kenya,” Ruto said.
Despite closer ties, trade between the two countries remains uneven.
Ruto acknowledged that tariff and non-tariff barriers continue to constrain commerce, limiting the full potential of economic relations between Africa’s two leading economies.
Kenyan exporters, particularly in the tea and coffee sectors, have long complained about restrictive market access conditions in South Africa, making the removal of trade barriers a recurring issue in bilateral discussions.
The trade balance also remains heavily tilted in Pretoria’s favour, with South African exports to Kenya significantly outweighing Kenyan exports to South Africa.
In a bid to address these challenges, both leaders endorsed plans to establish a South Africa-Kenya Joint Business Council, signalling a stronger role for the private sector in driving bilateral relations.
Ruto and Ramaphosa are expected to address a business forum in Gauteng, bringing together business leaders from both countries to explore new opportunities for trade, investment and economic cooperation.
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