Kenya’s wealthiest people appear to be losing interest in buying second passports, with fewer rich Kenyans now looking for another citizenship simply to make international travel easier.

A new Knight Frank Wealth Report shows that less than 10 percent of wealthy Kenyans surveyed plan to apply for a second passport or new citizenship in 2026. Another 38 percent said they are not currently looking for alternative citizenship.

The change marks a big difference from a few years ago, when a second passport was becoming popular among wealthy Kenyans looking for easier travel, better education and healthcare, investment opportunities and greater security.

Instead, wealthy families are now looking at the bigger picture.

Rather than simply buying another passport, they are considering residency programmes that can give them access to another country while allowing them to keep their businesses and investments in Kenya.

These programmes can offer access to international schools and universities, business markets, healthcare, retirement options and, depending on the country and the individual's circumstances, different tax and financial planning opportunities.

Wealth advisers say the thinking among rich families has become more sophisticated. They are looking at where their children will study, where businesses can expand, where families can retire and where wealth can be protected for future generations.

Dominic Volek of Henley & Partners says wealthy families are increasingly creating what he calls a “sovereign portfolio”, combining residence rights, citizenships, investments and business interests across different countries rather than relying on a single second passport.

The shift does not mean wealthy Kenyans have stopped looking outside the country.

Interest in international mobility remains strong. Henley & Partners has reported growing interest in investment migration among Kenyans, with enquiries rising significantly in recent years.

What has changed is why they are going abroad.

For some wealthy families, the goal is no longer simply to have another passport sitting in a safe.

It is about having options.

A family could maintain its main home and business in Kenya while securing residence rights elsewhere, sending children to school abroad, expanding a company into another market or preparing a place to retire.

The trend also shows that Kenya's wealthiest individuals remain relatively confident about keeping their main investments at home. Knight Frank says many high net worth Kenyans continue to hold significant interests in areas such as real estate, agriculture, technology and privately owned businesses.

This is a major change from 2022, when nearly 28 percent of wealthy Kenyans surveyed were seeking a second passport or new nationality. At the time, better investment opportunities, education and healthcare were among the major reasons for seeking another citizenship.

Today, the wealthy are still looking outward, but they are doing it differently.

The second passport is no longer the main prize. For Kenya's super rich, having options across several countries is becoming more important than simply holding another nationality.