The Kenyan Cabinet approved an overhaul of travel policies, including the exemption of all African citizens from Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) requirements, aiming to enhance intra-African travel and boost tourism.
This decision follows the approval of the 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and includes a comprehensive plan to improve passenger experience at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Key measures include:
- eTA Exemptions
“…exempting all African citizens from Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements and easing intra-African travel,” a dispatch from the cabinet on Tuesday reads.
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- Enhanced Passenger Experience at JKIA: Streamlined security checks with risk-based profiling and dedicated screening rooms.
- Increased immigration booths and the introduction of e-Gates to minimize wait times.
- Improved airport infrastructure with modernised baggage handling, enhanced drainage, and improved passenger amenities.
“Accountability measures will also be strengthened with new monitoring technology deployed to oversee airport staff, and mandatory uniforms with visible name tags required for all agency employees and retail concessionaires,” reads part of the cabinet dispatch.
This move will address concerns that previous visa requirements, including a mandatory three-day pre-registration period, had hindered travel to Kenya.
The Cabinet also approved an increase in the duty-free threshold for goods brought into the country by Kenyan citizens from KSh50,000 to KSh250,000.
These measures aim to position JKIA as a leading aviation hub in Africa by improving efficiency, enhancing security, and providing a more welcoming experience for travellers.
