The first batch of visa-free international travelers to Kenya landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi on January 5.
In a statement, Immigration and Citizen Services PS Julius Bitok announced that at least 2,300 more visitors are expected in the coming days under the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) arrangement.
This is line with President Wiliam Ruto’s directive to waive visa requirements for all travelers to Kenya irrespective of the country of origin beginning this year.
Bitok further said over 5,000 applications for ETA had already been received and a half of them already processed.
“It’s very easy to apply and get an ETA. You just need to fill your personal data in ten minutes, and you should be able to get an approval in 72 hours. We have made sure that travelling to Kenya is going to be an easy and pleasant experience,” he said.
He was speaking at the JKIA after witnessing the maiden visa- free arrivals aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight number ET 318 from Addis Ababa.
Passengers Support ETA after Landing at JKIA
Further his remarks were backed by passengers who said the ETA process was simple and faster compared to the visa application system it has replaced.
“We used to spend long hours going through the visa application, but it took me a few minutes to complete the ETA proc ess for my entire family.” Said Kyunga Sang Yoo, a South Koren national, who is a frequent visitor to Kenya.
Also Read: Kenya Exposed as Govt Delays Visa Free Directive
Kenya Visa Waive Plan
The PS said Kenya hopes the visa-free regime will double or increase the two million annual visitors to Kenya.
PS Bitok said the country further hoped to absorb the foregone revenue from visa applications from the anticipated spending by a higher number of tourists.
“On average, each visitor spends around Ksh500,000 within three months in Kenya. We believe we Can grow the annual revenue from increased tourism to Ksh.1.5 trillion every year,” he added.
Also Read: List of Countries That Eased Visa Requirements for Kenya in 2023
Bitok Dismisses Critics
Besides, he dismissed criticism that visa-free entry will expose the country to international criminal syndicates and their activities saying the new system offers better means of identifying and blacklisting undesirable visitors.
“ETA is a much superior system as we’re able to foretell persons who are coming to our country in advance and ensuring the necessary precautions are in place so that only the right people are welcomed,” he explained.
ETA Benefits
Bitok said the benefits of indiscriminate visa policy outweighed concerns of failure to respond in kind.
Additionally, he stated that Kenya hoped other countries will reciprocate the visa-free regime for its citizens.
The development follows the gazetting of the regulations to anchor the directive by Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki.
