President William Ruto has apologised to the African Private Sector Dialogue on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) delegates for paying visas to visit Kenya.
Speaking during the African Private Sector Dialogue Conference on Free Trade, the head of state said when one comes home, they don't pay.
"My minister informed me that some of our officials made you pay for visas to come home. He asked me to apologise and I do," he said.
Ruto told the African delegates that, that might be the last time they will pay for visas to visit the county.
"This is home. We support wholeheartedly the AfCFTA and we must remove any impediments to the movement of people around our continent," he said.
The President of Comoros Azali Assoumani welcomed Ruto's apology and joked that he might lose his passport and not go back to his country.
"My dear brother and friend Ruto will have to explain to my wife as I might not go back to my country because this is home," Azali said.
Currently, Kenyans holding ordinary passports are granted visa-free entry to South Africa, according to the new visa-free regime between the two countries.
The President in November 2022 said the deal had been arrived at, after an intervention by South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“From January 1, 2023, we will have a different regime. 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 said.
