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Kenya softens stance on visas, allows direct flights from Mogadishu

Storyline:National News

Flights from Mogadishu will now access Nairobi directly but those from other parts of the country will still have to go through Wajir in Kenya’s north-east for clearance.

Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Monica Juma communicated the changes in a letter to the Somali government dated November 25 following talks between Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Mohamed Farmaajo November 14.

Juma noted Kenya had ‘fully implemented its part of the issues agreed upon’ by the two leaders.

On the visa issue, Kenya said it will grant diplomatic and service passport holders on official engagement visas upon arrival ‘as long as they have documentary evidence’.

Passport holders of similar category but not on official engagement will have to apply for visas before traveling to Kenya just as ordinary passport holders have to.

For Members of Parliament whose names are already provided, they will be issued visas on arrival.

The changes follow resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries mid this month following months of icy relations.