The latest Henley Passport Index, a Global passport ranking, has placed the Tanzanian passport in the second position scoring 101 trailing behind the Kenyan passport, which was placed in the 98th position.
The Kenyan passport has dropped its position in the latest Index ranking, despite recent efforts by the government to secure more friendly bilateral ties, which include visa-free travel.
The global passport ranking placed Uganda in the 108th position, Rwanda in the 120th position, South Sudan in the 137th position, Burundi in the 137 position, and the Democratic Republic of Congo 141st position.
In June 2023, Visalit, an international visa ranking site, released the global passport ranking, and the Kenyan passport is currently ranked at position 98 among the global passports.
Kenya is the only EAC economy that made it to the top 100 in global ranking beating first-world countries like China and India while maintaining its spot as the most powerful passport in East Africa. Currently, Kenyans can travel visa-free to 43 countries and apply for a visa upon arrival in 22 countries.
Kenya was ranked position 98 in global standing, tying with Suriname and one place above global powerhouses China and Thailand at position 99. India was ranked position 111 globally.
The Kenyan passport has dropped its position in the latest Henley Passport Index ranking, despite recent efforts by the government to secure more friendly bilateral ties, including visa-free travel.
Early this year, the index released ranked Kenya’s passport at position 73 globally, two steps drop from position 71 in the same period last year.
This month, Kenya has ranked position 98 globally, tying with Suriname and one place above global powerhouses China and Thailand at position 99. India was ranked position 111 globally
According to Visalit, which compares the strength of these passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access, Kenyans can visit 43 countries without a visa, and Chinese citizens can only do so in 33 countries.
Chinese citizens also need to apply for a visa on arrival in 33 countries. China beat Kenya on only one indicator of passport strength, whereby 132 countries require visas before Chinese citizens travel, while Kenyans are required to do so in 138 countries.