Kenya has been ranked among the lowest African nations for providing visa-free access to travelers from other African countries, according to the Africa Visa Openness Index 2024. The index evaluates how open African countries are to visitors from within the continent.
Kenya placed 46th out of 54 countries, scoring 0.113. Comparatively, its East African neighbors performed better, with Tanzania and Uganda ranked 20th and 26th, respectively. Ethiopia achieved a notable 0.732 score, securing the 19th spot, while Somalia was ranked 17th..
The country outperformed only a few nations, including Sudan, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, South Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, and Cameroon.
According to the report, Kenya’s ranking was significantly impacted by the government’s policy requiring most African travelers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), even under the visa-free policy introduced by President William Ruto’s administration.
“Kenya’s requiring of an ETA prior to travel for most travelers from other African countries lowered the score,” the report noted.
Kenya’s ETA policy exempts citizens from East African Community (EAC) member states—Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. However, Somalia is notably absent from this list of exempt countries at the time of writing.
The report also highlighted concerns about the ETA system, which some travelers perceive as a form of visa, despite its time-saving potential.
“ETA lead times that undermine spontaneous travel, the need for confirmed itineraries and accommodation, can all serve as impediments to the free movement of people and undermine the inherent benefits that ETA systems potentially offer,” it stated.
Kenya implemented the visa-free policy alongside the ETA requirements in 2024, requiring visitors to process the authorization at a cost of USD 30 (Ksh3,881) per traveler.
The ranking raises questions about Kenya’s efforts to promote free movement across the continent, with critics urging the government to consider more traveler-friendly policies to enhance integration and boost its standing in future rankings.
