Kenyan Passport Ranked 8th Most Powerful in Africa, 72nd Globally

The Kenyan passport has been ranked among the top 10 most powerful in Africa, according to a new report released this week.

The 2020 Henley & Partners Passport Index, which was released on Tuesday, shows that the Kenyan passport is the eighth most powerful travel document in the continent and 72nd globally. Holders of a Kenyan passport can travel visa-free to 71 countries out of the possible 218, indicates the report.

The Japanese passport was ranked the most powerful in the world, with holders getting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 191 destinations. Singapore (190 destinations) was second followed by South Korea and Germany (189), Italy and Finland (188), and Spain, Luxembourg, and Denmark (187).

In position six is Sweden and France (186) followed by Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland and Austria (185), United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Greece, and Belgium (184), New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic, Canada, and Australia (183), while Slovakia, Lithuania, and Hungary (181) closed the top 10 list.

In Africa, Seychelles has the most powerful passport, which grants holders visa-free access to 151 destinations, followed by Mauritius (145), South Africa (101), Botswana (82), Namibia (75), Lesotho (74), Swaziland (72); Kenya and Malawi (71); Tanzania, and Zambia (68) and, Tunisia (66).

The worst passports to hold include North Korea and Sudan (visa-free access to 39 destinations), Nepal and Palestinian Territory (38),  Libya (37), Yemen (33), Somalia, and Pakistan (32), Syria (29), Iraq (28) and Afghanistan (26).