This archive report was first published on 9 January 2020.
Kenya's passport has made significant strides in global rankings, moving up three positions to become the 9th strongest in Africa and 71st globally, according to the Henley Passport Index.
Published on December 20, 2019, the report reveals that Kenyan passport holders can now access 71 destinations across the world without a prior visa, a notable improvement from the 70 nations they could previously visit.
The Henley Passport Index, which bases its findings on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other reliable sources, ranks the Japanese passport as the strongest globally and the Seychellois passport the strongest in Africa.
Kenya's electronic passport, introduced in 2017, has contributed to this improvement, featuring advanced security features and chip technology that enables real-time verification and automatic travel itinerary updates at airports worldwide.
While the Kenyan passport trails behind other African nations, including Mauritius (146 points), South Africa (100 points), and Botswana (84 points), it remains the strongest in East Africa, beating regional countries such as Tanzania (70 points), Uganda (66 points), and Rwanda (59 points).
Conversely, the Somali passport is the least powerful in the continent, garnering a score of 32 points.
