William Ruto To Officially Abolish Visa Requirement For Africans Visiting Kenya On Jamhuri Day

• President William Ruto shared that his dream for Kenya to be visa-free for Africans had persisted for the last 10 years
• Ruto emphasised the unity of the continent and the need for Africa to forge its own path, adding that the current narrative wasn't written by Africans
• He highlighted the importance of eliminating unnecessary borders, describing them as hurdles to Africa's potential

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - President William Ruto has declared that Kenya would officially become a visa-free destination for Africans.

During the Youth Connekt Africa 2023 Summit in Nairobi on Saturday, December 9, the head of state disclosed that it has been his dream for the last 10 years to have Kenya a visa-free destination for Africans.

Ruto said his decision was informed by Africa being one people and it being time for the continent to forge its path.

"Welcome all the youth of our continent and those from different parts of Kenya to Nairobi. Karibuni sana. This has been my clarion call for the last 10 years, and I am happy that two days from now, on Jamhuri Day in Kenya, we are going to declare finally that no African will be required to have a Visa to come to Kenya. It is because we are one people. It is because this continent needs to write its own narrative," Ruto said amid cheers.

The president observed that for a long time, Africa's story was written by others; hence, the content was negatively profiled as a continent of conflict, disease and poverty.

However, Ruto pointed out that the continent is more than the negative assumptions.

Why is Ruto advocating for borderless Africa

The head of state further highlighted that Africa had the youngest population in the world, adding that it was a great workforce and a future market.

He explained that the boundaries were unnecessary hurdles to Africa attaining her potential on the world stage.

"The young people of this continent. We are the youngest continent in the world with the greatest workforce and a great future market. That is not a continent, you describe as a continent of conflict, disease, and poverty; that is a different continent.

That is why it is necessary for us to eliminate the borders that create unnecessary roadblocks. That creates unnecessary stumbling blocks that create unnecessary hurdles to the huge potential to the huge opportunities that exist in our continent." Ruto added.

He added that it is the desire of the current crop of African leaders to convert the borders into bridges for our people to connect.

Paul Kagame abolishes visa restrictions

In a related incident, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame removed visa restrictions for African natives, allowing them to get into his country without any payment.

Rwanda announced it will allow Africans to travel visa-free to the country, becoming the latest nation on the continent to announce such a measure aimed at boosting the free movement of people and trade.

Kagame made the announcement in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he pitched the potential of Africa as “a unified tourism destination” for a continent.