The Kenyan passport has slipped two positions in the latest Henley Passport Index, falling to 69th globally from 67th last year. The index, released by global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, ranks 199 passports based on the number of countries holders can access without a prior visa or where they can obtain a visa on arrival.
Kenyan passport holders can now travel visa-free to 71 destinations, a tally shared with The Gambia, which also ranked 69th globally. The drop marks a continued trend of fluctuation, with Kenya previously ranked 73rd in 2023, 71st in 2022, and a historic low of 77th in 2021.
Regionally, Kenya and Gambia are tied for 10th place in Africa. Seychelles remains the continent’s most powerful passport at 24th globally, offering access to 156 destinations visa-free. Mauritius and South Africa follow at positions 27 and 48 respectively.
Other African nations ranked ahead of Kenya include Botswana (59), Namibia (63), Lesotho (65), Eswatini (66), Malawi (67), and Morocco (67). Somalia holds the continent’s weakest passport, with visa-free access to just 32 countries.
Globally, Singapore continues to dominate the index, with its citizens able to access 193 destinations without a visa. Japan and South Korea follow closely with access to 190 destinations. Meanwhile, the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position, 10th, granting visa-free travel to 182 destinations.
The Henley Passport Index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), covering 199 passports and 227 destinations worldwide.
Written By Rodney Mbua
