Kenya will allow citizens from almost all African countries to visit without prior authorization, according to a new cabinet directive.

Last year, Kenya introduced a “visa-free” policy that requires most visitors to apply for authorization online before leaving the country.

But the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which replaces visa requirements for all visitors, has been criticized as a “visa by another name”.

On Tuesday, a cabinet statement said that “all African countries except Somalia and Libya” will cancel ETAs “due to security concerns.”

It said it was part of “efforts to support open skies policies and tourism growth” and “promote regional integration and facilitate travel across the continent”.

Despite the introduction of the ETA, Kenya performed poorly in the latest rankings of openness to tourists, falling 17 places to 46th out of 54 countries in the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index.

In recent years, some African countries have tried to relax travel requirements for visitors from elsewhere on the continent, with studies showing that citizens of Western countries tend to have easier access.

Earlier this year, Ghana said all African passport holders It is now possible to visit without a visa. African tourists visiting Rwanda also do not require a visa to enter the country.

The African Union (AU) is also pushing for initiatives to promote travel within the continent.

Under the updated system, citizens of most African countries will be allowed to enter Kenya without having to wait up to two months for arrival.

However, East African Community members including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi can stay for up to six months under the bloc’s policy.

Kenya also said it would roll out an improved process “to allow travelers to be approved immediately” with a maximum processing time of 72 hours.

It’s unclear when this will take effect. According to a cabinet statement, multiple ministries have been tasked with coming up with guidelines within a week to improve “travelers’ experience at all Kenyan airports”.

Before the introduction of the ETA, tourists from more than 40 countries, including some African countries, could arrive in Kenya, get their passport stamped and enter the country without paying any fees.

All travelers must now apply for and pay an ETA at least three days before traveling to Kenya, unless they are citizens of an exempt country.

The ETA fee is US$30 (£24) and is valid for 90 days.

The policy has been criticized, with some noting that it could make it harder for potential tourists to come to the country.

Kenya said there were security considerations in introducing the new system, with a government spokesman telling the BBC last year that vetting of travelers was necessary.

The country has been targeted by al-Shabab jihadist militants from neighboring Somalia in several notorious attacks.

On Tuesday, the government said it would also roll out a system that would enhance “pre-screening, enhance security and streamline passenger processing at points of entry”.