Kenya Locks Out Somalia From Visa Exemptions in New Rules

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NAIROBI: Kenya has announced visa-free entry for all Africans except Somalia and Libya, citing security concerns.

A communication from a cabinet meeting Tuesday noted that waive the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to ‘promote regional integration and ease travel across the continent.’

It added that most African visitors will be allowed a two-month stay, while East African Community (EAC) nationals will continue to enjoy a six-month stay under EAC free movement protocols. Somalia joined the EAC in November 2023, becoming the eighth member of the East African regional bloc.

According to the Kenyan Bureau of Statistics, Somalia is the sixth-largest destination for Kenyan goods. In the first nine months of 2023, Kenya exported goods worth $168 million against $880,000 for Somalia in the same period.

The two countries have advanced relations since President Mohamud came to office in 2022. The visa restrictions on Somalis mean that Somali travellers will still undergo the rigorous visa application process and limited stay unlike their EAC counterparts.