President William Ruto wants to make it easier for visitors to the Port of Mombasa. Right now, people from other countries need an eTA to enter Kenya. They have to get this before they come, even if they are just babies.
The eTA system started on January 1, 2024. It helps keep Kenya safe by checking on visitors before they arrive and makes it quicker for people to enter the country when they arrive.
President Ruto discussed changing the eTA rules on Sunday. He was at the port to welcome the Norwegian Dawn, a big cruise ship. He said the changes are important because the government wants the rules at the port to match the rules at the airports.
President Ruto wants to make it really simple for visitors at the port. He said there would be less paperwork and waiting. He told the people on the cruise ship, "We will change our visa and eTA rules to make it easier and better for you. You won't have to fill out as many forms or wait as long."
The president also said he talked to the port's owners. They agreed to make the process easy so visitors can explore Kenya, its cities, and its parks without any trouble.
Some people didn't like the eTA system when it started. They thought it was just like a visa but with a different name. Last month, the government said people from almost every country in Africa can visit Kenya without asking first.
Many countries in Africa have tried to make it simpler for people from other parts of Africa to visit. Studies show that it is often easier for people from Western countries to visit Africa than for Africans to visit each other's countries.
The governor of Mombasa, Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, was happy about President Ruto's announcement. He said it will allow travelers to move around Kenya easily after they are cleared at the port.
Governor Nassir explained, "The cruise ship will give a list of all the passengers to the port. Then, the port will take care of everything in one step. This will make it very smooth for visitors to enter Kenya."
The eTA system started on January 1, 2024. It helps keep Kenya safe by checking on visitors before they arrive and makes it quicker for people to enter the country when they arrive.
President Ruto discussed changing the eTA rules on Sunday. He was at the port to welcome the Norwegian Dawn, a big cruise ship. He said the changes are important because the government wants the rules at the port to match the rules at the airports.
President Ruto wants to make it really simple for visitors at the port. He said there would be less paperwork and waiting. He told the people on the cruise ship, "We will change our visa and eTA rules to make it easier and better for you. You won't have to fill out as many forms or wait as long."
The president also said he talked to the port's owners. They agreed to make the process easy so visitors can explore Kenya, its cities, and its parks without any trouble.
Some people didn't like the eTA system when it started. They thought it was just like a visa but with a different name. Last month, the government said people from almost every country in Africa can visit Kenya without asking first.
Many countries in Africa have tried to make it simpler for people from other parts of Africa to visit. Studies show that it is often easier for people from Western countries to visit Africa than for Africans to visit each other's countries.
The governor of Mombasa, Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, was happy about President Ruto's announcement. He said it will allow travelers to move around Kenya easily after they are cleared at the port.
Governor Nassir explained, "The cruise ship will give a list of all the passengers to the port. Then, the port will take care of everything in one step. This will make it very smooth for visitors to enter Kenya."
