Recently, Kenyans have faced increased pressure from the United States due to its stricter visa regulations. However, it appears that obtaining a European visa is even more difficult.
In terms of African countries with the highest rejection rates for European Visas, Kenya ranks quite high on this dreaded list, according to data from the European Union Commission.
As per the report, 29.1 per cent of Kenyan applicants are denied Schengen visas, which are the short-term visas which enable one to travel across 27 countries in Europe.
Kenya's rejection rate places it behind regional peers, including Tanzania (20.1 per cent), Botswana (16.3 per cent), Zimbabwe (16.2 per cent), Zambia (10.8 per cent), South Africa (5.7 per cent), Mauritius (5.6 per cent), and Namibia (5.2 per cent), whose fortunes in the Schengen visa department are a bit better.
Interestingly, at the bottom of the list, the countries with the least chances of seeing their visa applications rejected are Liberia and São Tomé at rates of 0.8 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively.
Kenya's rejection rate of 29.1 per cent is not disastrous by any stretch, but it certainly paints a worrying picture, especially since the figure stands out in East and Central Africa, especially for a country which prides itself on being a diplomatic hub.
In terms of countries with the highest rejection rates, (45.9 per cent), Senegal (46.8 per cent), and Comoros (62 per cent) round off the top three.
Several factors can lead to a country's declining acceptance in European travel systems, with one of the most common reasons for rejection being incomplete applications or weak supporting documents.
Notably, many visa applicants from Africa fail to meet standard requirements like proof of sufficient funds and confirmed accommodation. Strong ties to the country of birth, like employment and property ownership, are also crucial requirements, as failure to show this leaves European embassies suspicious that there are no intentions to return after the visit.
Another factor which significantly hurts a country's acceptance in European travel systems is perceived risk. For some countries, their residents are perceived to be potential immigration risks due to an evaluation pattern from visa officers, which has shown that many individuals from a certain country lack clear economic or social attachments to their home country.
Thirdly, European visas are generally extremely valuable, making their demand soar. With this in mind, the supply of available approvals almost never matches interest. This mismatch leads to stricter vetting processes, leaving countries perceived to be of higher immigration risks at a disadvantage.
A lack of robust visa facilitation agreements between Kenya and some EU member states is also another underlying factor in Kenya's ranking in the rejection rates. For countries like South Africa and Mauritius, they enjoy stronger bilateral relations and more favourable policy frameworks.
In an attempt to boost Kenya's standing in Europe, President William Ruto recently challenged the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to work with the European Union Chamber (EuroCham) to establish a Business Council in a move that will benefit thousands of Kenyans should it come to fruition.
Ruto, who spoke during the launch of EuroCham in Nairobi on Monday, sought to champion the strengthening of ties between the EU organ and the government to promote trade as well as climate change efforts.
