NAIROBI, Kenya, July 24 – The Kenyan passport has slipped two positions within the newest Henley Passport Index, dropping to 69th globally from 67th final 12 months.
According to the report by London-based international citizenship and residence advisory agency Henley & Partners, Kenyan passport holders can now entry 71 locations with out a prior visa or by acquiring a visa on arrival.
The Henley Passport Index evaluates 199 passports utilizing unique information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The rankings replicate the variety of locations a passport holder can journey to with no need a visa prematurely.
Other African passports ranked above Kenya this 12 months embrace Seychelles (twenty fifth globally), Mauritius (twenty ninth), South Africa (forty eighth), Botswana (59th), Namibia (63rd), Lesotho (sixty fifth), Eswatini (66th), Malawi (67th), and Morocco (additionally 67th).
The 2025 report highlights continued shifts in international mobility as nations both tighten or chill out their visa regimes in response to diplomatic, safety, and financial issues.
“The consolidation we’re seeing on the prime underscores that entry is earned and have to be maintained by lively and strategic diplomacy,” stated Christian Kaelin, the chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index idea.
He added that whereas many countries are increasing their mobility by bilateral agreements, others are witnessing slight declines as a result of altering international dynamics.
Despite the autumn in international rating, Kenya stays within the prime ten African nations with probably the most highly effective passports.
It ranks ninth on the continent and leads throughout the East African area.
However, island nations proceed to dominate Africa’s passport energy.
Seychelles is ranked twenty fourth globally, whereas Mauritius holds twenty seventh place, providing their residents entry to over 150 nations with out the necessity for a previous visa.
The index additionally highlights that such actions in rank typically replicate minor coverage shifts fairly than a nation’s total international affect.
Kenya’s modest decline underscores the significance of sustained diplomatic engagement and reciprocal visa agreements.
