Easing Travel Between Kenya & South Africa

During the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba’s, visit to Kenya in May this year, plans were made to ease travel between South Africa and Kenya. The discussions were sparked when Kenya’s Amina Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, stated that the applications for clearance to travel, which were to be submitted by Kenyans travelling to South Africa, was a “violation of bilateral the agreement between the countries”. In summary of the discussions the following revelations were made –

  • agreed that study visas will be issued for the duration of the candidate’s study;
  • transit visas for Kenyans transiting through South African airports will be scrapped; and
  • ten-year visas with multiple entries for business travellers and academics who are required to travel to South Africa frequently will be issued.