Kenyans holding ordinary passports have one more reason to fly after the country and South Africa inked a deal that will allow them to travel to South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days.


This was revealed by President William Ruto on Wednesday during a joint press briefing with the visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at State House Nairobi.

According to Ruto’s statement, Ramaphosa’s intervention and experience on the matter made the deal possible.

“On the progress, we have made in the long-awaited, visa-free regime between Kenya and South Africa, from January 1, your excellency. We will have a different regime. Thanks to your personal intervention on this matter and the wealth of experience that have been brought on board by your officials,” Ruto said.

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“Kenyans holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter South Africa on a visa-free regime for up to 90 days per calendar year.” 

Ruto also disclosed that Kenya and South Africa have also agreed on a return policy when immigration laws and regulations are breached to make sure that bad elements that try to infiltrate our borders are dealt with firmly and decisively.

This is just one of the four instruments of cooperation that will play a definitive role in Kenya-South Africa relations.


Ruto and Ramaphosa presided over the signing of 3 memoranda of understanding and one agreement.

They include cooperation in the fields of correctional services, cooperation in housing and human settlement, corporation between the Kenya School of Government and the National School of Government in South Africa and the agreement on audio-visual co-production.