Uhuru Scraps Visa Requirements for Mozambique Citizens

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday announced the scrapping of visa requirements for Mozambican citizens who wish to visit Kenya.

Kenyatta was speaking during a State banquet hosted for him and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta by President Filipe Nyusi and the First Lady of Mozambique, Isaura Nyusi, at the Ponta Vermelha Palace in Maputo last evening.

“Our forefathers fought for political liberation. It falls upon us to ensure economic liberation, to ensure the artificial boundaries created by former colonial masters are removed and that our people are free to travel, trade, do business and marry without obstacles,” stated the Head of State.

[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta During the Dinner"][/caption]

To further enhance cooperation between the two countries, Kenyatta added that Kenya will this year open a consulate in Maputo with the aim of having a full mission next financial year.

In November last year, the President directed that all Africans shall receive visas on arrival in Kenya but that is now a thing of the past for Mozambican nationals following his latest directive.

“I urge our Mozambican brothers and sisters to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in Kenya and trade with their Kenyan brothers and sisters,” remarked President Kenyatta.

He also observed that the people of Kenya and Mozambique were bound together by a common culture, ancestry and peoples.

“While Kenya and Mozambique established diplomatic relations in 1975, there is evidence of interaction that dates back to the pre-colonial era,” the President noted.

Underlining the close ties between Kenya and Mozambique, Kenyatta said the community of Makonde speakers, originally of Mozambican descent, now constitute part of the Kenyan citizenry and are officially recognised as the 43rd tribe of Kenya.

“I personally had the honour to preside over the official ceremony conferring citizenship to the Makonde community early last year.

"The event was not mere tokenism, but the result of our firm belief in the oneness and unity of all African peoples irrespective of their descent,” he reiterated.

[caption caption="Photo of the Event"][/caption]