GABORONE – Visiting Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta said Monday that he has “pushed” President Ian Khama to consider reviewing the country’s immigration laws.
Kenyatta’s remarks come hardly a year after two senior officials at the Chinese embassy in Botswana also described Botswana’s immigration laws as ‘draconian’, ‘disturbing’ and unfriendly to investors.
At the same time, the business community through interventions such as the High Level Consultative Council (HLCC) has sought to convince government to allow people with skills to come into the country.
On Monday, Kenyatta, who held trade talks with Khama at his office said he urged President Khama to review immigration rules especially those concerning work permits for Kenyans who want to work in Botswana.
“Today I held bilateral talks with President Ian Khama where I pushed for ways to boost business engagements between Kenya and Botswana. I urged President Khama for a review of immigration rules especially those concerning work permits for Kenyans who want to work in Botswana,” Kenyatta stated on his Facebook page after a cancelled Press Conference that was scheduled for late Monday afternoon.
The Kenyan President also said that he has called on for the review of the bilateral air services agreement to allow Kenyan Airways to fly to more destinations within Botswana.
He says the review will help improve the free movement of people from the two nations.
“We are requesting for a review of the BASA in order to actualise the inclusion of the already granted entry points of Maun, Francistown and Kasane,” said President Kenyatta.
The state owned Kenyan airline is currently operating scheduled flights between Gaborone and Nairobi.
Meanwhile Kenyatta is said to have also called on Khama to support him to inspire the Botswana business community to exploit the existing investment opportunities in Kenya.
