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Rwanda, Kenya seek to ease travel restrictions

By Eric Kabeera

Rwandans and Kenyans could soon start travelling to either country using their national identity cards, immigration officials have said.

Kenya’s EAC Minister Musa Sirma.

Ange Sebutege, the communications officer at the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration, said the two institutions (Immigration) have already agreed to set up a bilateral technical team to study all the intricacies involved.

The decision was reached at a recent meeting in Kigali between the two countries’ immigration bosses.

The technical team that would involve the immigration officials from both countries is expected to commence the study by the end of this year, where they will discuss all the terms of reference, according to Sebutege.

“The whole idea is about easing free movement of people and goods between the two countries. Recently, the two immigration chiefs met in Kigali and recommended to set up the team to study how the IDs will be used,” he said.

However, the critical issue that might arise after the adoption of using identity cards is that travellers will pass through other countries like Uganda which is not party to the arrangement.

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