South Africa frustrating us, Senators

Senators in Kenya have taken issue with South Africa over strict policies for obtaining visa.

The Senators accused South Africa of frustrating their visa application process pointing at the long duration one has to wait to obtain feedback from the Embassy on visa application.

Led by Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe, the legislators claimed that the policy has restrained short notice travel to South Africa, adding that they will move the Pan Africa Parliament to Kenya or Ethiopia if the issue is not addressed.

“If South Africa does not change its attitude towards African Nations, we will move the Pan Africa Parliament to either Kenya or Ethiopia,” said Mutahi.

The Senators further complained that the staff at the South African Embassy have no respect for senior government officials who travel to the nation, adding that they have faced harassment severally.

Nairobi County Governor Dr. Evans Kidero also implored the South African government to review their visa policies for Kenyan citizens.

Speaking after meeting the Turkish Ambassador to Kenya, Kidero said that African countries, specifically Kenya and South Africa, are forced by circumstances to work together.

The complaints come just months after President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with South African officials in a bid to strengthen relations between the two countries.