Kenyan socialite Shakila has voiced her disapproval of the recent decision by the government to declare Kenya visa-free.
Through her InstaStories, the socialite expressed concerns about the safety of women in the wake of the tragic incident noting that the Airbnb business is a risk.
"With what is going on in Kenya now, specifically the Airbnb business…the government should rethink the visa rule!!! The cases are just gonna get higher…I mean these foreigners are gonna stay in the BnBs!!! The girls in the streets ain't safe," Shakila stated on her InstaStories.
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The socialite's remarks come days after the mysterious death of an unidentified woman, whose dismembered body was discovered at an Airbnb residence in Roysambu.
The woman had reportedly checked into the Airbnb with a man who is now being treated as the main suspect in the killing by the police.
The incident has raised questions about the safety and security of Airbnb accommodations.
Kenya visa-free
Immigration Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok recently verified the arrival of the initial group of travellers entering visa-free using the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In his statement on January 5, Bitok declared that the country had surpassed 5,000 ETA applications, with 2,141 of them successfully approved.
To obtain approval, visitors must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) through the be-Citizen platform, with a fee of Ksh4,600. It is recommended that applicants submit their requests at least three days before their planned travel to ensure eligibility, as the approval process takes a minimum of 72 hours.
“It’s very easy to apply and get an ETA. You just need to fill in your data in ten minutes and you should be able to get approval in 72 hours. We have made sure that travelling to Kenya is going to be an easy and pleasant experience," Bitok said.
The Permanent Secretary also conveyed optimism that this initiative would enhance the nation's economy by generating revenue through increased tourism.
He emphasized the country's goal of attracting 5 million tourists annually, with an anticipated revenue of Ksh1.5 trillion.
"On average, each visitor spends around Ksh500,000 within three months in Kenya. We believe we can grow the annual revenue from increased tourism to Ksh.1.5 trillion every year," he added.
