Based on what I've read, e-visas take 24-72 hours to be approved. A few people have reported longer waits. But I would eliminate the worry of waiting for your online approval by just buying your visa on arrival.
You sure have time as many report having their eVisa back in less than a week.
However, why wonder/worry when you can purchase on arrival... get the form, complete it and keep with your passport and USD$50. Simple enough.
Where can one get the form on line? If done at the airport does one also need photos?
No photos required for the application on arrival. The application form (Form 22) is sometimes handed out on the flight, available at Immigration, or at the link below:
http://www.immigration.go.ke/downloads/Form-22-Application%20for%20Kenya%20Visa.pdf
You just need this form, payment ($50 in recent bills) and of course, your passport. Fingerprints and a photo are taken at the immigration desk.
I just got one and it was available for printing within 30 hours. I've gotten them on arrival at the airport before, but some of the airlines are now requesting that you have a visa for the country you are landing in. Last thing I'd want is being denied boarding a flight if they asked for it so I did the evisa starting with my last trip. It did cost me $2.53 more than the $50 on arrival, but it's done.
Concerned about long queues.
Recent posts by members on this forum have said that queues for people who already had visas were longer than those for people getting them on arrival
The queues are the queues.. Seems like I've spent the same amount of time in line whether I've sent my passport in and gotten the sticker in advance, gotten it on arrival or gotten the evisa ahead. You just get herded to any line. This will be my first trip since the new arrivals hall opened so I'm hoping it goes faster. Although even if you happen to get through quicker, you're still waiting with a LOT of others from arriving planes, all waiting for their luggage which on occasion has taken up to an hour, unless you only have carry on.
The difference is that there is an e-visa queue now, rather than you joining any line.
Good to know. Hopefully, that will make things easier. Has luggage retrieval gotten any better?