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Kenya's visa-free promise hits a snag as tourists face reality at airport

The front view of Moi International Airport Mombasa.

By Patel Okumu | Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Despite President Ruto's bold declaration of a visa-free Kenya by 2024, tourists arriving at Mombasa's Moi International Airport on Tuesday painted a different picture.

Despite President Ruto's bold declaration of a visa-free Kenya by 2024, tourists arriving at Mombasa's Moi International Airport on Tuesday painted a different picture. Eastleigh Voice, conducting spot checks, encountered several visitors grappling with the familiar visa application process, casting doubt on the swift implementation of the policy.

Among them was Giulia Rossi, an Italian tourist sporting a sun-kissed face and a hint of disappointment. "We booked our trip months ago, excited about the visa-free access," she shared, clutching a completed visa form. "Imagine our surprise when Ethiopian Airlines informed us it was still mandatory. It's a bit confusing."

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Echoing a similar sentiment was John Wilson, an American adventurer planning a solo trek through the Kenyan wilderness. "I love Kenya's diverse landscapes, especially the Masai Mara," he explained, pulling out a stack of paperwork. "I was hoping to skip the visa hassle this time, but here I am again. I hope things become clear soon."

Perhaps the most frustrated was Sarah Jones, a seasoned traveler and self-proclaimed Masai Mara enthusiast. "This is my fifth trip to Kenya, and the Mara is like a second home," she expressed, holding up her passport adorned with multiple Kenyan visa stamps. "The visa-free announcement gave me hope, but it seems like just words for now. It's inconvenient and confusing for frequent visitors like me."

These travelers, all arriving on separate Ethiopian Airlines flights, represent a stark contrast to the vision painted by visa-free announcement and the implementation by the directorate of immigration services. While the excitement for a visa-free future remains, the reality on the ground reflects a policy still in its infancy, leaving tourists and tourism-dependent businesses in limbo.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority's statement, offering assurances about an "ETA system" under development, provides little solace for immediate visitors. The lack of a concrete timeline further amplifies the confusion and raises questions about the effectiveness of communication between government pronouncements and actual implementation.