Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has weighed in on President William Ruto’s plan to abolish any visa requirement while travelling to Kenya.
In a statement on X on Monday, the former CJ claimed that Kenyans should have been involved in the decision through public participation.
Mutunga pointed out that Kenyans exercise their direct sovereign power in such cases.
“Kenyans should demand public participation in all these decisions. How do we use our direct sovereign power if not in cases like this?” he posed.
Mutunga was responding to activist Boniface Mwangi after he said that the government should explain a policy to Kenyans before implementing it.
“Ruto announced VISA-free without reciprocity without involving us. Ruto is changing our foreign policy. The budget deficit from visa fee collections will be paid by us,” Mwangi posted.
While giving his opening address at the Africa Climate Summit at KICC, President Ruto said it was unfair to ask one of Visa requirements when they were coming home.
"We are having a conversation as Kenyans because it is unfair to ask anybody coming home for visas," he said.
In May during the African Private Sector Dialogue Conference on Free Trade, President Ruto told the African delegates that, that might be the last time they will pay for visas to visit the country.
"This is home. We support wholeheartedly the AfCFTA and we must remove any impediments to the movement of people around our continent," he said.
Ruto had apologised to the African Private Sector Dialogue on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) delegates for paying visas to visit Kenya.
Countries enjoying visa-free requirements while coming to Kenya include Indonesia, Eritrea and Djibouti.
