Kenya Lifts E-Travel Fee for Ethiopia, South Africa in Goodwill Gesture

Nairobi, Kenya – In a move, signalling strengthened ties between nations, the Kenyan government announced today that it will exempt Ethiopia and South Africa from paying fees for its new electronic travel authorization system. The waiver goes into effect immediately and will apply to citizens from those countries looking to visit Kenya for tourism, business, or other purposes.

The announcement came directly from Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Raychelle Omamo, at a press briefing this morning. “We are pleased to extend this waiver to our friends in Ethiopia and South Africa,” Amb. Omamo stated. “It is a gesture of goodwill and an affirmation of the deep bonds between our nations and peoples.”

Kenya launched its e-travel authorization system just this past January. It requires foreign visitors to apply and pay for clearance online before travel, similar to visa systems in many Western countries. Until now, only children under 16 were exempt from the $10 fee. Citizens from Ethiopia and South Africa will join them in unfettered access to Kenya.

The move is anticipated to boost travel and ties between the three African nations. Ethiopia and Kenya in particular have had a long, intertwined history in terms of trade, security, and people-to-people connections. Meanwhile, South Africa has become an essential economic and political partner across the continent.

Experts say the waiver sends a positive signal. “This shows Kenya’s commitment to facilitating mobility in Africa and strengthening diplomatic relations between its neighbours,” said Dr. Solomon Ali, a researcher at the University of Nairobi’s African Studies Centre. “I expect we’ll see increased tourism and business travel between these countries moving forward.”

Others hope this news may inspire more open travel policies across Africa. “African nations ought to be finding ways to connect their people, promote development, and integrate their economies,” said Pauline Lumumba, director of the pan-African organization Umoja. “Kenya’s decision sets a great example. We encourage other countries to look at ways they can increase mobility across borders.”

For now, Ethiopians and South Africans can take advantage of accessing Kenya faster and at no cost. The e-travel authorization system has already been praised for modernizing and streamlining entry procedures. This latest update makes travel easier and more accessible for Kenya’s southern neighbours as well.

With this waiver, Kenya continues to emerge as a leader in smart, forward-thinking policy in Africa. Its use of technology to facilitate travel and connections with other nations is a model for the continent. As Amb. Omamo concluded in her briefing today, “It is partnerships and collaboration that will allow Africa to achieve its full potential, and Kenya is committed to advancing that vision.”