These are the 2 main reasons why Kenya has beef with South Africa

Jacob Zuma is in the country, making his three-day stay the first state visit by a South African President since 1994.

He has been received warmly by his host President Kenyatta complete with a 21-gun salute and a Guard of Honour mounted by the Kenya Defence Forces.

However, behind the smiles and cordial pleasantries being fronted on camera by the two, all is not as rosy as it appears between the two countries.

Presidents Zuma and Kenyatta among other dignitaries dance at State House. (Photo: PSCU) 

Visa issue

Kenyatta’s request that Kenyan nationals be granted visas upon arrival in South Africa was all but ‘turned down’ by Zuma who was non-committal to the proposal.

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Zuma claimed that there are foreigners who might take ‘advantage’ of such a situation to do harm on his citizens.

The two presidents after holding bilateral talks at State House. (Photo:PSCU)

Zuma thereafter said that all these immigration processes and relaxation of visa rules cannot all be done at a go and suggested that he would ‘look into the matter’.

Unfair rules

Currently, South Africa has got tough immigration rules for Kenyans wishing to travel to their country.

President Zuma gives a toast during his state visit to Kenya. (Photo: Capital FM) 

Kenyans are required to apply for visas, pay an application fee of around Sh7,000 and wait for several days to get the vital document.

On the other hand, South African nationals get Kenyan visas for free on arrival into the country.

Kenya’s lobby

Pres. Kenyatta had also wanted to lobby South Africa to support Kenya’s nominee Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to the post of African Union Chairperson.

However, this agenda was conspicuously absent during the joint Press Conference by the two presidents at State House on Tuesday.

This may largely be due to the fact that South Africa may not want be seen going against the Southern African countries block who already have Botswana’s Foreign Affairs minister, Dr Pelonomi Venson- Moitoi, as their preferred choice for the position.

Kenya and South Africa are both considered regional heavyweights and command huge influence on the continent.

This may be the prime reason as to why relations between the two countries have in the recent past appeared frosty as they both compete for economic dominance in Africa.