Kenya becomes visa-free for all

The East African country plans to scrap visa requirements for not just all Africans but every visitor.

Author

Anthony Miclet
December 20, 2023

Kenya plans to scrap visa requirements for not just all Africans but every visitor, President William Ruto recently announced.

Starting in January, visitors to the East African nation from around the world would only have to secure an electronic travel authorization, instead of going through the traditional visa application process. 

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Steady markets

NGX remains bullish as benchmark index crosses 72,000 mark

The world’s largest crypto has in recent weeks broken through key resistance levels and aimed for unprecedented highs. Although dipping last week, Bitcoin held steady above $42,500.

In Nigeria, equities remain bullish. The NGX benchmark index crossed the 72,000 points mark and in November, investors enjoyed returns above the consumer price index. Year-to-date, Nigerian equities stand above 40%.

And after closing Friday in the green, gold price globally consolidated its gains around $2,040 early on Wednesday. It is expected to see an increase in value due to the weakened U.S. dollar and lower yields on U.S. Treasury bonds ahead of the holiday season.

Scaling back

Jumia to shut down food delivery service in seven markets

Africa’s most prominent e-commerce player is quitting the fast-food delivery service, shutting down the business in seven markets—Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Ivory Coast.

The decision forms part of Jumia’s strategy under its new leadership, which has initiated several cost-cutting measures such as suspending logistics-as-a-service, Jumia Prime, and first-party grocery delivery in select markets.

Beyond Jumia, the move aligns with a broader industry trend. Bolt Food recently exited Nigeria and South Africa, both markets currently grappling with high inflation and increased competition within the food delivery sector.

Soaring prices

Nigeria's inflation reaches a new 18-year high in November

Consumer prices in Africa’s largest economy reached a new 18-year high in November, matching a record level from 2005, potentially prompting the central bank to consider raising interest rates. 

Nigeria’s inflation surged by 28.2% compared to the same period a year earlier, up from 27.3% in October, according to National Bureau of Statistics data.

Food prices remain a significant cost burden for many Nigerians, with staples such as bread and yam experiencing price increases. The food inflation rate for November was reported at 32.84%.

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Our insight for the week

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Kenya’s visa-free plan can be a win for Africa: For the past decade, the African Union (AU) has pursued the ambitious goal of achieving visa-free travel across the African continent. 

Despite some regional agreements and bilateral arrangements in existence, the progress toward completely abolishing visa requirements could be accelerated. 

According to a report supported by the AU, only Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin currently permit entry to all African citizens without the need for a visa. 

However, the AfDB’s Africa Visa Openness Index indicates that numerous nations are simplifying entry procedures and reducing restrictions for travelers from other African countries.

The report, which gauges the degree of openness of African nations to visitors from other African countries, ranked Kenya 29th out of 54 African states last year.

That’s a poor turnout for one of Africa’s most prominent economies and a country often touted as the “gateway” to East Africa. 

However, Kenya is making efforts to remedy this, establishing agreements to permanently eliminate visa requirements for citizens of Eritrea, Comoros, and Senegal. 

In August, Indonesia also joined this list, and this week, President William Ruto said all Africans will be able to visit without visas from December 31.

Elsewhere on the continent, West Africa counts the largest share of top-performing countries in 2022: it is home to eight of the top 20 performers, equivalent to 40% of all top performers

These developments reflect a broader trend toward increased visa openness within the continent, aligning with the AU's objectives.

And more importantly, they have the potential to bolster intra-Africa economic ties and trade—which stands at a meager 14.4%.

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