Kenya has climbed two spots in the latest Africa Visa Openness Index (Avoi) 2023, landing at 29th place. While this marks progress, the East African nation still holds the dubious distinction of being the second least accessible country for visitors within the region.
The uptick in ranking can be attributed to Kenya’s decision to grant visa-free entry to citizens of Djibouti and Mozambique. However, the report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) paints a nuanced picture, highlighting that Kenya and Uganda remain in the lower half of the Avoi’s country rankings.
“Three East African Community member states—Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania—are among the Avoi’s top 20 performers this year. Indeed, Rwanda holds a perfect score,” the report notes. This regional disparity is likely what prompted President William Ruto’s recent announcement abolishing visa requirements for all visitors starting January 2024, a move expected to propel Kenya further up the rankings.
Kenya’s visa openness journey has been a rollercoaster. In 2021, the country ranked 28th, only to slip to 31st last year as the government imposed travel restrictions to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, nationals from 32 countries require visas to enter Kenya, while citizens of 19 African nations enjoy visa-free access.
The recent visa liberalization efforts, including the upcoming blanket waiver for all visitors, are aimed at boosting Kenya’s tourism and business sectors. Last year, the country welcomed 1,465,175 visitors (excluding those in transit), and the government is looking to significantly increase these numbers through its open-door policy.