Manual visa applications extended

The government has announced that manual visa applications at ports of entry will continue until the newly introduced electronic visa system is fully operational.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said though the e-visa system is already running, manual applications at the country’s entry points would continue concurrently so as not to bar last-minute visitors to the country.

“We have had a number of challenges on the implementation of the e-visa and I have therefore ordered that (applications for visas) on arrival to the country continues,” the President said.

The President made the remarks Wednesday in Italy during the opening of a business forum between the Kenyan and Italian business communities.

The forum is among a series of activities the country has lined up in Milan to mark the Kenya week in the ongoing Milan Expo that has attracted over 150 countries.

DIRECT FLIGHT

The President also announced that discussions were at an advanced stage to introduce direct flights from Milan to Kenya to ease travel.

“Malindi International Airport will be able to handle direct flights from Milan and we shall discuss (how to make this) a possibility,” said the President.

Italy is the fourth top source market for tourists to Kenya, with about 50,000 visiting yearly.

The announcements are expected to boost the tourism sector, which has recently shown impressive arrival numbers from different source markets.

He told the Italian business community that his government had put in place relevant infrastructure to spur investment in all sectors of the economy.

Mr Kenyatta is accompanied by cabinet secretaries Phyllis Kandie (East Africa Affairs Commerce and Tourism), Adan Mohammed (Industrialization), Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs), Najib Balala (Mining), Hassan Wario (Sports), Joseph Nkaissery (Security) and Attorney-General Gitu Muigai, among other government officials.

Governors attending the event are Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Paul Chepkwony (Kericho) and Amason Kingi (Kilifi).