KENYA’s President William Ruto was celebrated last year when he announced his country would be going visa-free for African visitors, but many have been surprised by the new requirements, which have introduced fresh costs and paperwork for some.
Adio, a Zimbabwean citizen living in Germany, was not anticipating any issues at Bremen airport when he arrived for his flight to Kenya earlier this month.
But at the check-in desk he was asked to show a document saying he had permission to enter Kenya.
“We had a short argument at the counter. I insisted I didn’t need one,” said the 33-year-old who works in the tech sector.
Had he travelled a week earlier, Adio would have been right.
Nationals of Zimbabwe, along with more than 40 other countries including several from Africa, were previously able to arrive in Kenya, get a stamp on their passport and enter without paying.
So, when Kenya announced it would be visa-free for everybody from 1 January 2024, Adio thought the same rules would apply.
“Once I scanned my phone to find the new details on entry into Kenya, I then realised visa-free wasn’t really visa-free at all,” he told the BBC.
He spent the next few hours frantically going through various agencies to fast-track the new application process, which cost him around €150 ($160; £130).
By the time the documentation came through, he had missed the first leg of his flight.
Like others, Adio was under the impression that Kenya’s new visa-free policy would ease travel.
But under new rules, travellers must get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) every time they enter Kenya.
The ETA is for single entry and is valid for 90 days. It costs $30 and takes up to three days to process.
Only citizens from countries in the East African Community (EAC) are currently exempt.
Documents needed to get an ETA include flight details and proof of a hotel booking.
