Mozambican nationals visiting Kenya will no longer require a visa, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
Speaking in Maputo during a State banquet hosted for him and First by President Filipe Nyusi and the First Lady of Mozambique, President Kenyatta said the move will go a long way in strengthening ties between the two countries.
“Our forefathers fought for political liberation. It falls upon us to ensure economic liberation, to ensure the artificial boundaries created by former colonial masters are removed and that our people are free to travel, trade, do business and marry without obstacles,” President Kenyatta said.
To further enhance ties between the two countries, President Kenyatta said Kenya will this year open a consulate in Maputo to have a full mission next financial year. In November last year, President Kenyatta said that all Africans shall receive visas on arrival in Kenya but that is now a thing of the past for Mozambican nationals.
“I urge our Mozambican brothers and sisters to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in Kenya,” President Kenyatta said.
Underlining the close ties between Kenya and Mozambique, President Kenyatta said the community of Makonde speakers, originally of Mozambican descent, now constitute part of the Kenyan citizenry and are officially recognised as the 43rd tribe.
Noting that there were seasoned Kiswahili speakers in both Mozambique and Kenya, President Kenyatta said that placed an added responsibility on the two countries to promote Swahili.
