By Kwanta Douglas –
South Africa is set deport all illegal migrants, including those from other countries, to Kenya as part of a new agreement that will soften Kenya’s present harsh visa regulations.
Under the new agreement, mediated by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa following the President’s state visit to the country last month, Kenya would now be responsible for preventing any unlawful migrants from entering South Africa through Kenya.
Kenya will also be compelled to return deported South African unlawful migrants who entered the country through Kenya, putting the burden of reducing the flow of illegal migrants to Nairobi.
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said on Sunday that Kenya and South Africa have struck an agreement on deportation in the midst of an uptick of persons traveling from overseas to Kenya and then driving to South Africa.
“We have now signed agreements on returning illegal entrants, so now we are moving towards granting an e-visa, which we have piloted in India and which is working quite well,” she was quoted saying by South Africa news outlet Daily Maverick.
“We have been saying to Kenya, ‘you have a responsibility to stop people’ because if you’re an asylum seeker, the first country they come to should be the one they remain in. They shouldn’t be crossing borders. We have agreed now that we can send people back if there is clear proof that they have been through Kenya.”
Tough South African visa restrictions for Kenyan travellers and traders have prevented free entry into South Africa and made it difficult to do business in South Africa for Kenyans.
The restrictions, which have remained a thorny issue for the two countries, include a Sh5,350 processing fee that takes at least five working days to process.
Kenyan Visa applicants must also provide sufficient proof of funds, return flight air tickets among others.
South African nationals on the other hand have it easier as they can get a Kenyan visa for free on arrival to the country.
Culled from: TheEastAfrican.co.ke