Kenya's passport falls to 70th position in 2025 global ranking

Kenya’s passport has dropped to 70th position in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, granting holders access to 70 destinations without a prior visa, down from 76 last year.

The latest ranking places Kenya alongside The Gambia, though it remains the strongest passport in East Africa, ahead of Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

In 2024, Kenya had climbed six places to reach 67th, but the new index shows a reversal. Neighbouring Tanzania is ranked alongside Kenya at 70th with access to the same number of visa-free destinations, Uganda follows at 72nd with 67 destinations, and Rwanda trails at 75th, offering access to 63 countries.

The decline comes despite Nairobi’s reforms, including the January 2024 move to scrap visas for most foreign visitors in favour of an Electronic Travel Authorisation system. President William Ruto said the initiative aimed to strengthen regional integration and promote tourism growth across Africa.

“We are having a conversation as Kenyans because it is unfair to ask anybody coming home for visas. In a few months, we are seriously considering abolishing any visa requirement for travelling to Kenya,” Ruto said in the run-up to easing visa rules in 2023.

While the reforms have attracted more tourists and investment, Kenyan citizens still face restrictions abroad due to limited reciprocal visa waiver agreements.

On the global stage, Singapore and South Korea top the index with visa-free access to 192 destinations each. Within Africa, Tanzania and Kenya occupy lower tiers despite regional dominance. According to the Henley Passport Power Index 2025, which measures visa-free access relative to global GDP, Tanzania scored 5.39 per cent, narrowly ahead of Kenya at 5.05 per cent. Mozambique (4.86 per cent) and Rwanda (4.49 per cent) complete the East African bloc, reflecting the region’s limited travel freedom.

“Passports are not just travel documents; they are gateways to economic opportunity. Improving visa-free access for Tanzanians could boost business, education, and investment flows. Right now, our region is punching below its weight,” a political analyst said.

Mauritius and Seychelles top the African list, with passports granting access to 55.53 per cent and 55.25 per cent of global GDP, respectively, despite their small economies.

On the mainland, South Africa leads with visa-free access to 15.49 per cent of global GDP. North African states such as Tunisia (14.02 per cent) and Morocco (10.3 per cent) also rank among the continent’s best.

By contrast, East African passports remain constrained.

The Henley report highlights the widening gap between African passports and global leaders, including Japan, Singapore and EU member states, whose citizens enjoy near-universal mobility.

As of 2025, Mauritius and Seychelles remain Africa’s mobility champions, while Tanzania, Kenya, and their regional peers face the ongoing challenge of expanding diplomatic and travel partnerships to enhance economic and educational opportunities abroad.

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