NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan passport has lost a bit of its travel swagger this year, dropping two spots to rank 69th globally in the newly released Henley Passport Index.
That’s down from 67th place in 2023 and a slight slip in a climb that had just started looking promising.
The index, compiled by London-based global citizenship firm Henley and Partners, ranks 199 passports by the number of countries they unlock — either visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival.
Kenyan passport holders can now access 71 destinations without having to jump through pre-travel visa hoops. That puts Kenya in a tie with Gambia and 10th on the continent.
If you’re wondering who’s boss in Africa’s passport game, it’s Seychelles, standing tall at 24th globally with access to a staggering 156 destinations visa-free.
Mauritius (27th) and South Africa (48th) round out the continent’s top three, giving their citizens far greater freedom of movement.
Back home, Kenya’s ranking has been a bit of a rollercoaster. In 2021, it plunged to its lowest point in two decades — 77th.
The rebound came quickly, with the passport climbing to 71st in 2022. But it’s been losing steam since, dropping to 73rd in 2023, and now settling at 69.
Several African nations now outrank Kenya, including Botswana (59), Namibia (63), Lesotho (65), Eswatini (66), and both Malawi and Morocco at 67.
Meanwhile, Somalia holds the unfortunate title of Africa’s weakest passport, with access to just 32 countries. Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, and the D.R. Congo trail close behind.
Globally, it’s Asia that dominates the leaderboard. Singapore leads the pack, offering its citizens visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow with 190. European heavyweights — including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain — share third place with access to 189 countries.
The U.S., which once topped the index in 2014, continues its decline, now tied for 10th place with Iceland and Lithuania. American travelers can visit 182 destinations without a prior visa — still impressive, but not what it used to be.
Henley’s rankings are based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), tracking passport access across 227 destinations worldwide.
For Kenya, the message is clear: while some progress has been made, there’s still work to do if the passport is to climb back up the global mobility ladder.
