Citizens from the East African Community (EAC) could be soon required to apply online for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Kenya when the six-month leeway granted to neighbouring countries lapses.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor, Nixon Ng’ang’a, the Director of Communications in Ministry of Interior confirmed the implementation would kick off immediately after the six-month grace period.
Among the countries currently exempted from the ETA system are Somalia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
According to Ng’ang’a, the six months were meant to give the Kenyan government the wiggle room to comply with international standards.
"We are currently developing a system to recognise various types of EAC documents used for traveling within the region," Ng'ang'a denoted.
"The six months will be used to align regional interests and compliance with international travel protocol."
Ng'ang'a while detailing the plans noted some of the countries exempted from the ETA were not compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations on travel, which poses a challenge in the implementation process of ETA for travelers within the region.
Currently, EAC citizens are only required to submit an Identification card to enter Kenya.
The ETA system which was adopted at the start of the year on January 1, replaced the traditional Visa system.
Meanwhile, all visitors entering Kenya will have to brandish a valid passport, a passport-size photo, contacts, including a phone number and an email, accommodation booking confirmations and credit cards, debit cards, and other means of payment.
Visitors must submit their application within three days before travel to allow adequate time for verification.
Interior Principal Secretary Julius Bitok while detailing the efficiency of ETA noted the new system reduces the application wait time from 14 days for Visas to just 72 hours for the ETA.
