- Kenya has announced the end of Amnesty for foreign citizens and has advised the affected foreigners to either leave the country or regularise their stay
The Kenyan immigration department had allowed foreigners to extend their stay in the country despite expired Visas without legal consequences
Kenya has announced the end of Amnesty for foreign citizens and has advised the affected foreigners to either leave the country or regularise their stay
Many foreign nationals visiting Kenya were stranded due to the worldwide travel disruption caused by the Covid-19. The Kenyan immigration department had allowed these foreigners to extend their stay in the country despite expired Visas without legal consequences. Kenya issued a circular in May advising the National Police Service (NPS) not to arrest or charge foreigners with the offence of being in the country even after the expiry of their visas.
Immigration Services Director-General of Alexander Muteshi has announced the end of Amnesty for foreign citizens and has advised the affected foreigners to either leave the country or regularise their stay in line with local immigration laws within the next two weeks. Those who fail to comply will face a fine of at least Sh5 million or a five-year jail term.
The new directive was issued in the light of the opening of international flights from August 1st after suspending them in March due to the coronavirus and easing of Covid-19.
Prior to the resumption of the international flights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had organised repatriation flights for stranded travellers in cooperation with different countries.