Nairobi — President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed that all Africans wishing to visit Kenya should be issued with visas at various points of entry.
President Kenyatta made this public during his maiden speech following his inauguration for a second term in office at the Kasarani Stadium. He toed this line with the hope that other African states will open up their borders in order to promote free trade and other bilateral activities.
“The freer we are to travel and live with one another, the more integrated and appreciative of our diversity, we will become. The political balkanization that risks our mutual security, the negative politics of identity, will recede as our brotherhood expands to embrace more Africans.
Today, I am directing that any African wishing to visit Kenya will be eligible to receive a visa at the port of entry. To underscore Kenya’s commitment, this shall not be done on the basis of reciprocity.”
He further announced that all East African Community nationals are free to work in Kenya without work permits with all that is needed is their national IDs and for them to observe the stipulated laws.
“As a mark of our continued commitment to you, our Brothers and Sisters in the East African Community; from today, you will be treated like Kenyans. Like your Kenyan brothers and sisters, you will need only your identity card. You can now work, do business; own property, farm and if you wish, and find a willing partner, you can marry and settle in Kenya,” he stated.
