Madowo shared his frustration on social media on March 9, explaining that he had to pay more than KSh10,000 to get a Nigerian visa even though Kenyans have opened their borders to most African countries.
According to Madowo, the actual visa itself costs about KSh3,200 (25 US dollars).
However, he said applicants are also required to pay an additional KSh6,457 (50 US dollars) as an online application charge and another KSh645 (5 US dollars) for a payment provider.
This means the total cost goes above KSh10,000 for a single-entry visa.
The journalist questioned why Kenyans must pay such high charges while Nigerians can travel to Kenya freely.
He wrote that “Nigerians don’t need a visa to come to Kenya, but as a Kenyan passport holder I am still charged over KSh10,000 for a single-entry visa,” highlighting what he described as an unfair situation between the two countries.
Madowo also raised concerns about the type of visas issued to Kenyans.
He noted that even when travellers apply for multiple-entry visas, Nigerian authorities often end up issuing only single-entry visas, which limits travellers who may need to enter the country more than once.
The debate comes after President William Ruto expanded Kenya’s visa-free policy in July 2025 to allow citizens from most African countries to enter Kenya without traditional visas.
The move was meant to encourage tourism, trade, and stronger ties across the continent, but the policy has sparked discussions about whether Kenya should demand the same treatment from other countries that still charge Kenyans for visas.
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