Visas upon arrival

"Today, we announce that any African passport will obtain a visa on arrival in Kenya," he told the thousands of Kenyans and guests at Kasarani Stadium.

The new development was announced by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during the country's celebration of 50 years of independence yesterday.

However, Kenyatta added that the new model will be applied on the principle of reciprocity to countries which will offer Kenyans the same with the only exception being instances that can compromise national security.Kenyatta said the move would accelerate implementation of the continental integration agenda.

"Under the arrangement, any African visitor may stay for up to six months. The only exception to this rule will be when regional security could be compromised," he said.

Rwanda is the only country that has opened its borders to Africans who travel to the country to receive visas upon arrival at entry points.

Integration

President Kenyatta also detailed other initiatives that Kenya would embark on to promote the continental integration, most of them implementation of the integration programmes.

"Kenya will contribute to a brigade to be part of the Rapid Response mechanism as part of the Africa Peace and Security Architecture agreed during the last Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government," Kenyatta said.

We applaud His Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta, the government of the Republic of Kenya and the gracious wananchi. We join you in this celebration of how far we have come; what we have achieved, confident that the years ahead are filled with promise and prosperity.

 Viva Jamhuri ya Kenya!

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LALA NGOXOLO TATA MADIBA

Fare thee well uTata Madiba, fare thee well.

In life you brought us change for which we had hungered, suffered and even laid down lives. In your leadership you urged us to embrace peace even as our blood boiled and our anger threatened to overflow our sensibilities.

Every time news of your health was announced we held our breath, fearful that you might breathe your last. Yet you prepared us slowly, gently to accept that one day you will go to rest, as we all will, in good time.

So here we are, feeling a deep sense of loss on the one hand, but filled with a sense of completion on the other. You transformed the mood of our country by your wisdom and perseverance thus teaching us to seize every moment, every emotion and rather than be seized by it.

These past days we have traveled, yet again, through your life's journey. We have arrived at a new place in time. These moments will never return and neither will those that you suffered and triumphed. We are a few days older but compared to yesteryears, this period has been renewing. Your words, the songs in your favor, speeches and tributes paid to you have been our company, the balm to our grieving spirits.

Today we celebrate your life. In passing on your life has broadened our horizons even wider, embracing the entire world whose leadership, encapsulated in over one hundred heads of state, uTata Madiba, graced your memorial service today, watched, in awe, by an admiring, appreciative global community. On five continents your name is revered because despite your pain and suffering your unprecedented heart of forgiveness ushered in a new era for South Africa, for Africa and indeed the world. In your own humble way, uTata Madiba, you ushered in a common currency; that of forgiveness and reconciliation. Not by talking about it, by living it. Oh, that we whom you've left behind, from the hallowed halls of the United Nations to the historic streets of Soweto, might embrace this goodness; this basic lesson in humanity.

Thank you, uTata Madiba, thank you. You gave us stature in the world; provided lessons that the world can take from this sub-continent; lessons that are universal because they embrace humanity; gave us a platform upon which we can proudly say, in the spirit of Ubuntu, "We are because you were".

In the words of President Barack Obama, you have inspired us, each one of us to be a better man, a better woman, a better human being.

Our gratitude knows no bounds. Because of your sacrifice we now live in peace. We pray that you will now, in turn, rest in peace.