'Too hectic!' Kenya's 'visa-free' status questioned by numerous travelers after ETA introduction

President William Ruto introduced the policy last month to promote visa-free travel within Africa, looking at attracting millions of visitors and boosting tourism revenue.

Travelers who have had the opportunity to go through the flying rigours are now saying that the process is not only visa-free, it's also hectic, comes with a price and is causing confusion.

Prominent CNN journalist Larry Madowo opened the pandora's box, revealing that, in the place of a visa, visitors are now required to obtain electronic travel authorization (ETA) by submitting documents and paying a $30 (Ksh. 4,700) processing fee.

In an explicit X thread, Madowo went on to poke holes into the whole 'visa-free' fallacy, adding that the ETA was actually a 'visa which is not called a visa' and that on it's website, authorities had not indicated how much money one was required to pay as processing fee - thereby confusing travelers even further.

"Kenya is now “visa-free” for every human on earth. But you can’t just get on a flight. You have to apply for Electronic Travel Authorization, pay $30 and wait up to 3 days for approval. So, a visa?" he wrote.

"The actual cost of the Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization - a visa that is not called a visa - appears to be $34.09. Weirdly, the ETA website does not state how much it costs. You have to apply to find out!"

Madowo's sentiments were backed by several high-profile - and regular - people all of whom branded the 'visa-free' talk an empty charade by the Kenyan government.

Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono also joined in the criticism, stating, "Dear Africans, Kenya is not telling the truth when it says it is visa-free; it has made travelling more difficult for Africans who didn't need a visa before."

Chin'ono's sentiments were also backed by Malawian entrepreneur Jones Ntaukira who said, "Until 24 hours ago, as a Malawian, I could just wake up, buy a ticket and fly to Kenya in the afternoon, visa-free.

Now, Kenya has 'removed visa' for everyone, but everyone has to pay a $30 travel authorization fee 72 hours before travel. What? Hectic!"

On Sunday, January 7, the Ministry of Interior issued an update on the development of the  Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to facilitate visa-free visits as directed by President Ruto.

In a statement, the authority highlighted a number of changes introduced to the ETA while also adding that it had received a total of '9,787 applications'.

For example, all travellers to Kenya would now enjoy reduced fees from Ksh7,756 ($50) charged as part of visa application to Ksh4,700 ($30).

According to the Ministry, only travellers from the East African Community (EAC) countries would be exempted from the fee.

Before ETA, citizens from 51 countries enjoyed visa-free entry to Kenya, while travellers from 155 other countries were subject to a visa application process at a cost of Ksh7,756.

Zimbabwean author and Executive Chairman of the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust Ibbo Mandaza also expressed his displeasure with the Kenya Airways rigmarole, terming his experience as 'horrible'.

"What a horrible experience with Kenya Airways and , of course, Kenya itself which introduced a new (paid) visa regime for all arrivals. Chaotic airline that caused last minute flight changes and delays across the region and beyond; not to mention incompetence at the transfer desks in Nairobi, " he wrote.

When someone asked him whether Zimbabweans were required to have a visa to enter Kenya, he said, "Yes, sadly. The ETA is in fact a visa by another name. Check with your travel agent before you travel!"