NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 13 – Kenya’s passport has lost strength in the latest Henley Passport Index, slipping to 69th place globally with access to 71 destinations without a prior visa, down from 76 last year.
The 2025 ranking places Kenya alongside The Gambia, though it retains the top spot in East Africa. In 2024, Kenya had climbed to 67th position, but the latest report shows a reversal.
Neighbours Tanzania (70th with 70 destinations), Uganda (71st with 67), and Rwanda (73rd with 63) remain behind Kenya despite its decline.
The drop comes after Kenya’s sweeping immigration reforms, including the January 2024 rollout of an Electronic Travel Authorization system that replaced traditional visas for most foreign visitors.
President William Ruto has championed the policy as a way to promote integration and boost tourism, even hinting at abolishing visa requirements altogether for inbound travel.
While the reforms have spurred tourism and investment, Kenyan citizens continue to face hurdles abroad due to limited reciprocal visa waiver agreements.
Globally, Singapore and South Korea hold the strongest passports, offering access to 192 destinations.
