Kenyans wait for Chinese visas in vain

Kenyans seeking visas to travel to China wait outside the Chinese embassy in Nairobi on August 14, 2015. Some had been waiting for their visas since July. The Chinese embassy has ditched the online visa application process and outsourced the service to VFS Global. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

What you need to know:

  • Under new rules that took effect on July 1, travellers seeking visas to China must book appointments online and secure their dates.

  • Previously, Kenyans simply walked into the embassy any week day and fill the visa forms.

  • Despite the website being slow and failing to capture applicants' details in full, appointments have been booked until September 30, according to a public notice issued by the embassy.

Hundreds of Kenyans have been queuing outside the Chinese embassy in Nairobi seeking visas to the Asian country without success.

At 11am Friday, dozens of Kenyans were camping outside the embassy conversing in low tones.

Others were leaning on the walls close to the gate as they pondered their next move after being denied entry into the embassy.

There is no place to rest or sit outside the embassy.

These and hundreds of other Kenyans — among them students, traders and visa agents — have been camping outside the embassy, almost every day, for the past two and half months.

ONLINE PAIN

Under new rules that took effect on July 1, travellers seeking visas to China must book appointments online and secure their dates.

Previously, Kenyans simply walked into the embassy any weekday and filled out visa forms.

Though the embassy's website is slow and fails to capture applicants' details in full, appointments are fully booked until September 30, according to a public notice issued by the embassy.

This means new appointments can only be secured from October 1, unless one has an emergency or needs a diplomatic visa.

“I have been coming here since July. Each time, the embassy says my visa is not ready without giving any valid reason,” said a trader, who sought anonymity fearing victimisation.

Chinese travellers to Kenya, on the contrary, can get a Kenyan visa on arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

TRADE LOSSES

According to Mr James Kariuki, the chairman of the Kenya-China-Dubai Traders Group, Kenyan traders’ goods are stuck in China because of the visa-processing delays.

“Since August, traders could not access the bookings and those who managed to book were tuned down for over five times without a proper explanation," he said. 

At least 100 Kenyan business people travel to China every month, but with the doors closed, only a few will manage to bring in new stock between now and October.

The embassy staff refused to comment on the matter.

The Kenyan government on Friday said it would send a team to the Chinese embassy to look into the matter.

“We are sending government representatives to ascertain the root of the matter and forge the way forward,” said Mr Karanja Kibicho, the Foreign Affairs principal secretary.