Kenya Airways to Resume Direct Flights to Angola

President William Ruto on Wednesday, January 8, agreed to work with Angola Head of State João Lourenço to boost relations between the two nations. 

Ruto flew to Luanda on Tuesday evening after attending the inauguration ceremony of President John Mahama in Accra Ghana.

Among the delegates who accompanied the President were Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku.

Among the biggest resolves between Ruto and João Lourenço was the resumption of direct flights from Nairobi to Luanda, starting January 2025 in a move that will mark a significant milestone in deepening economic ties between Kenya and Angola.

The engagement between the two Presidents also resulted in a resolution to ease travel restrictions, with Angola set to waive visa requirements for Kenyans. Kenya had earlier extended a similar gesture to Angolans.

President Ruto believes the move will significantly improve access for Kenyan professionals, particularly teachers, to job opportunities in Angola.

“We welcome Angola’s decision to work with Kenya in facilitating the resumption of Kenya Airways’ direct flights to Luanda from March. Coupled with the reciprocal waiver of visa requirements for Kenyans, this will strengthen bilateral ties and expand opportunities for enhanced cooperation and mutual benefits,” Ruto said in a statement.

Kenya has already done a similar Visa-free favour to Angola and the rest of the world at large, after Ruto made a landmark decision last year that there would be no need to get a visa to enter Kenya.

The move, according to the President, was meant to open up the country to the world, and encourage socio-economic development.

In the government’s latest update, however, all travellers in transit through Kenya who wish to move around Nairobi city must apply for and pay for electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before their journey to Kenya.

Beyond easing movement between the two nations, President Ruto and his Angolan counterpart also discussed reforms in the African Union (AU) and the upcoming AU Commission chairperson elections.

Notably, Ruto strongly championed the candidacy of his former political rival, Raila Odinga, as he extended an invitation to the Angolan Head of State to visit Kenya for a retreat later this month.

Additionally, the two heads of state discussed the need for a meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to address the DR Congo conflict, which has displaced more than 100,000 people in less than a week.

“Peace and security on our continent are of paramount importance to us all, and we are keen to have a process that incorporates everyone and ensures its success,” Ruto added.