A Zimbabwean travel blogger and his wife were denied entry into Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for lacking an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), spending 32 hours stranded before returning to Tanzania. The incident has raised questions about consistency and fairness in Kenya’s immigration procedures.

A Zimbabwean travel blogger, Tachie, has spoken out after he and his wife were denied entry into Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for not having an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The couple, who had been traveling from Tanzania, were informed at immigration that entry was impossible without the online authorization, which typically takes up to three days to process.

Tachie said he requested to apply for the ETA at the airport and asked to speak to a supervisor, but his request was declined. He noted that moments later, an Australian traveler nearby was allowed to complete his visa application online and proceed, raising concerns about unequal treatment. “This is not about anger. It is about fairness,” Tachie said, adding that respect and dignity should not depend on the passport one carries.

The couple was forced to remain in the duty‑free area for 32 hours without proper meals, showers, or resting facilities before securing a flight back to Tanzania. His wife, exhausted, slept on a window sill during the ordeal.

Kenya introduced the ETA system in January 2024, requiring most foreign nationals to apply online before arrival. However, Zimbabwean nationals were later exempted from paying for ETA applications, according to Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite this exemption, travelers are still required to register digitally for identification purposes.

The incident has drawn attention to inconsistencies in how immigration rules are applied. Reports from local media confirm Tachie’s account, noting that flexibility appeared to be extended to Western travelers while African visitors faced stricter enforcement.

Kenya’s immigration authorities have not publicly commented on the case. Advocacy groups argue that while countries have the right to enforce entry requirements, procedures must be applied uniformly to avoid perceptions of discrimination.

For Tachie, the contrast was stark. Upon returning to Tanzania, he described a warm reception that underscored the pain of his Kenyan experience. “The difference in treatment is what made this so difficult,” he said.