Confusion Over CS Mutua Senegal Visa Deal

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua on Monday, July 17, announced that Kenya has reached an agreement with Senegal for visa-free travel. 

The deal was struck after a consultative meeting between the Kenyan delegation, headed by President William Ruto, and their West African counterparts, led by President Macky Sall. Mutua said the Senegalese government has reciprocated Kenya's initiative by allowing Kenyan passport holders to enter Senegal without a visa. 

"This is a great step towards enhancing regional integration and free movement of Africans within Africa. This will grow trade between our two countries and open up tourism and education opportunities for citizens of both Nations," Mutua said in a statement. 

However, confusion has arisen over the deal, with some Kenyans claiming to have travelled to Senegal without a visa in the past while others say it was a key requirement. Despite this, according to the Senegalese government website, Kenyans did not require a visa for entry before the announcement. Some individuals have contested this, claiming that they were required to obtain a visa when visiting Senegal.

Visitors must have a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival and must have at least two blank pages for visa stamping. Kenyan Kim Musau who embarked on a journey from Nairobi to Portugal disclosed facing challenges with immigration officers in Senegal who demanded a visa. According to reports, even Kenyans with US or Schengen visas were required to present a visa upon entering Senegal.

The Kenyan government is working to expand the list of countries where their citizens can travel without visas. Currently, visa-free privileges are applicable in Ghana, Botswana, Benin, Dominica, Cuba, the Cook Islands, Barbados, and the Bahamas.