- Tachie and his wife were denied entry to Kenya and were forced to return to Tanzania, spending 32 hours in the duty-free area while awaiting their flight
- Despite politely requesting to complete the eTA online application at the airport, their requests were denied
- Tachie highlighted that flexibility appeared to be available for white Western travellers, while they, as Africans, were treated rigidly
A travel blogger has shared his harrowing experience when he visited Kenya with his beloved wife.
Source: Facebook
Tachie explained that they had travelled from Zimbabwe to Tanzania, where they spent two months and described the experience as beautiful, thanks to some of the warmest people they had ever met.
However, when it was time to leave Tanzania, they flew from Dar es Salaam to Kenya, and that is where their ordeal began.
Why was Zimbabwean couple denied entry to Kenya?
“At immigration, I was told I could not enter because I did not have an eTA visa, which must be applied for online in advance. I fully understand that every country has the right to enforce its immigration laws. That is not the issue. The issue is what happened next,” he shared.
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Tachie recalled politely asking if he could complete the online application at the airport, but his request was refused. He even asked to speak to a supervisor, only to be told that the process took three days and that they would not be allowed entry until then.
A kind Australian traveller who had overheard their conversation offered his laptop so they could apply for the eTA visa.
“He was completing his own visa application at that very moment and had been informed that once he submitted it, he would be allowed into the country. I returned to ask if I could do the same. Again, I was told no. I had to fly back to Tanzania,” Tachie shared.
Rejected once again, he lamented the unfair treatment they received simply because they are Africans, noting the double standards that appeared to favour white travellers.
He also expressed gratitude for the Australian traveller, whose kindness in that desperate moment meant a lot to him and his wife.
Source: Facebook
Why did couple spend 32 hours at Kenyan airport?
The incident occurred around 8.40 am, and the only available flight back to Tanzania was the following afternoon. Tachie explained that returning to Tanzania was the most affordable option, as flying back to Zimbabwe and then arranging another flight to Kenya would have been far more expensive.
As a result, they spent 32 hours inside the duty-free area, waiting to depart, with no proper meal, no shower, and no real place to rest.
“The picture you see is of my wife sleeping on a window sill. That small corner became our resting place as we waited for a flight back to Tanzania,” he added.
Tachie shared that what hurt him most was not the visa requirement itself, but the stark difference in treatment. Flexibility seemed available for a white Western traveller, but not for fellow Africans.
“We often speak about African unity and supporting one another across borders, yet in that moment, we felt like strangers on our own continent. When we returned to Tanzania, we were welcomed again with warmth and dignity. That contrast is why this experience remains with me,” he explained.
For Tachie, telling his story was not about anger, but about fairness. He emphasised that if rules apply, they should apply equally, noting that respect and dignity should never depend on the colour of a passport holder’s skin.
Why was young woman stranded at airport?
In other news, TUKO.co.ke reported that a young woman identified as Jasmine Triggs left her home and flew 2,400 kilometres to meet a man she had been chatting with online.
She spent KSh 49,000 on the ticket, hoping to meet the love of her life, but he ended up blocking her while she was still mid-flight.
The man, Jamal, had promised to pay for her return flight. However, when he went silent, Jasmine was left stranded at the airport.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
