When I jumped on a flight to Nairobi, almost every African, no visa queue, long applications, drama became much easier. Retrospectively effective from January 22, 2025, Kenya officially opened the door to the continent with a game-changing visa-free policy that exempts travelers from almost all African countries from applying for electronic travel approval (ETA).
But there's a twist. Other parts of Africa are warmly welcome, but citizens of Somali and Libyan have at least not been invited to this party yet. The Kenyan government says the reason is simple: security.
So, what is really going on? Let's break it down.
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Under this bold new movement, African travelers will no longer need a visa to enter Kenya. Instead, they will enjoy a much simpler travel process. Most visitors will be allowed to stay for two months, but citizens from East African Communities (EAC) countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi will continue to enjoy it for up to six months thanks to EAC-free movement protocols.
The Kenyan Cabinet described this policy as part of a broader goal of promoting “regional integration and ease of travel” across Africa. Think of it as the way Kenya says:
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We are all Africans. Make it easier to visit, connect and do business.
But then there was a detailed printing.
Why Somalia and Libya didn't make a list
Kenya wants to boost tourism, trade and unity, but also pays attention to national security. And unfortunately, Somalia and Libya are considered high-risk countries in this respect.
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The threat of Al Shabaab in Somalia
If you follow East African security news, you've probably heard of Al-Shabaab, a Somali-based extremist group that has been involved in several deadly attacks in Kenya over the years, including the infamous Westgate Mall attack in 2013 and the Garissa University massacre in 2015.
Somalia and Kenya share cultural and economic ties (and long, porous boundaries), but al-Shabaab's repeated attempts to strike Kenya's soil have made the authorities very careful.
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Libya's lawlessness
Once one of Africa's wealthiest countries, Libya has been in chaos since the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Today, the country is largely controlled by rival armed factions, where a powerful central government is invisible. This could cause Libya to become a source of regional instability, and allow extremists, traffickers and other bad actors to slip through the cracks, according to Kenyan officials.
The Kenyan Cabinet made that clear: While the visa-free policy is about unity, Somalia and Libya had to exclude “to protect Kenya's borders and citizens, particularly for security reasons.”
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What else will change at the airport?
Apart from visa reforms, Kenya is revamping the way travelers are treated completely. This is the new one:
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New advanced passenger information (API) and passenger name record (PNR) systems introduce better tracking, screening and safer passengers.
The Cabinet also directed major ministries, transportation, interior affairs, tourism and finance, reviewed airport operations, and came up with ways to improve the traveler experience at all Kenya's airports within a week.
Yes, it's not just about deleting your visa. Kenya wants to be a more welcoming and tech-savvy hub for Africans on the move.
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What does this mean for Africa?
Kenya is currently joining a small group of visionary African countries defending visa-free travel in the continent. This is a major victory for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) and the African Union Agenda 2063.
For entrepreneurs, creatives, students and tourists, this allows you to unlock large opportunities, imagine being able to attend meetings on a whim in Nairobi, or plan a voluntary safari without worrying about paperwork.
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However, Kenya's careful approach to Somalia and Libya reminds us that pan-African dreams still clash with real-world challenges, such as terrorism, the Civil War, and vulnerable states.
Seat belt unification
Kenya's movements are bold and positive, and are very necessary on a continent where travel often finds it more difficult than it should be. But that is also calculated. We've strengthened security measures to avoid being caught off guard while reaching out to other parts of Africa.
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In other words, here is Kenya's message to Africa: “We want to unite, but we want to stay safe.”
Counting down to January 22nd, the continent will closely monitor how this policy will unfold and whether more African countries will follow suit.
