historic relationship
By Mekonnen Teshome
Ruto’s Administration Disregards Historic Deal Between Kenyatta and Emperor Haile-Selassie
The historic relationship between Kenya and Ethiopia has very special and astonishing narratives.
It has to do mainly with the history of Pan Africanism, the struggle for independence and the profound friendship of Kenya ’s first President Jomo Kenyatta and Ethiopia’s last Emperor Haile Selassie.
The two leaders were very close friends and had contributed a lot for the processes of African independence, having mutual personal respect themselves, they had taught their people about love and brotherhood among the Ethiopian and Kenyan populations.
Kenyatta incorporated “Ethiopian History” in the Kenyan education curriculum and King Haile Selassie encouraged his people to study Kenyan and African history and he has realized the establishment of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.
When Kenyatta was a student in the United Kingdom, he used to hang the Ethiopian green, yellow and red flag in his room on 75 Castle Road. This was a symbolization of free and independent Africa through displaying the “green, yellow and red flag” of Ethiopia, which has always been the beacon of African Independence as it is the only African country never colonized.
Jomo Kenyatta traveled abroad only twice during his 15 years as president. One was in July 1964 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and the second and final trip was to Addis Ababa where he was very impressed how the Ethiopian fighter jets welcomed Kenyatta dancing in the skies of Addis Ababa and showing a sign of “JOMO”.
The Ethiopian Air Force was the only African Air Force owned by Ethiopia in the African soil by then. The Ethiopian Air Force took missions in Africa including Zimbabwe and other African countries to fight against colonialists.
The same year Emperor Haile Selassie paid a five-day visit to Kenya. In June 1970 – President Kenyatta And Haile Selassie signed a historic border treaty and they had also agreed for visa free citizens movement between the two sisterly countries.
Even today, this the two people are reflecting historic relationship in many ways. When you visit Ethiopia Embassy websites you read; “A visa is required for all visitors to Ethiopia, except for nationals of Djibouti and Kenya,” and the Kenyan Embassy in Addis Ababa writes: ”Nationals of Ethiopia do not require a VISA to visit Kenya.”
Kenyans have always commemorates Emperor Haile Selassie as a great freedom father and recently one of the 10 Interchange roads connecting the Kenyan capital Nairobi to Mombasa has been named after His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia .
But, the recent imposition of visa Waiver for Ethiopians by President William Ruto of Kenya seem to disregard this historic facts between the two nations.
The new visa regulation by the administration has resulted in the infringement of the historic agreement and Ethiopians are facing difficulties in entering Kenya for visit and business.
Ethiopians Traveling to Kenya are expressing their frustrations and concerns about the unprecedented requirement to fill out extensive online paperwork upon arrival and the need to make electronic payments instead of using cash. The visa waiver program, which Kenya implemented on January 1 , 2024, officially took effect for flights departing from Ethiopia on 6th of January.
Now, according to the new regulation, all foreign nationals, including Ethiopians, are required to obtain an ETA online in advance of their trip, with a fee of USD 30. But Kenyans are still free of any visa requirements to enter Ethiopia for any purpose.
“The Ethiopian government is currently evaluating the situation.”
The Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya said that it is undertaking studies regarding the the situation, and officials in Addis Ababa are monitoring it closely.
Yes, the situation can be seen and interpreted in various ways in the language of diplomacy. The Kenyans might have expressing something in the language of diplomacy, however, the two sisterly countries are both sovereign and independent with no differentiations of one is superior and otherwise, some travelers said.
Therefore, the Ethiopian authorities should negotiate for the maintenance of the historic status quo or the diplomatic language or retribution in visa requirements for Kenyans to enter Ethiopia, they told African Demystifier.
Fears of Worsening Petty Corruption
The travels approached by African Demystifier also indicated that the level of corruption in Kenya is high and this bureaucratic process may worsen petty corruptions in connection with the immigration process.
And called on the Kenyan government to consider the historic deal made between Kenya’s first president and King Haile Selassie of Ethiopia that gave the two people the freedom of traveling to the countries with our visa requirement.
Kenya’s new ETA system requires travelers to provide a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining and one blank page, proof of hotel reservation, and personal information.
Additional documentation, such as proof of financial resources and return ticket confirmation, may be required for certain travelers. Business visitors must provide official government registration documents of their company and an invitation