Kenyan Passport Retains its Global Status Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Kenyan passport has defied the Covid-19 pandemic to retain its position as the 72nd most powerful passport in the world.

This is according to the latest Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free or visa-on-arrival.

The Japanese passport, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 191 destinations around the world, was ranked top followed by Singapore (190 destinations) while South Korea tied with Germany in third place with a score of 189.

Italy, Finland, Spain, Luxembourg (188) were fourth followed by Denmark, Austria (187); Sweden, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland (186); Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium (185); Greece, New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic (184); Canada, Australia (183); and Hungary (181).

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

In Africa, the Kenyan passport was ranked at position seven behind Seychelles (151 destinations), Mauritius (145), South Africa (101), Botswana (82), Namibia (75), Lesotho (74), and Swaziland (72).

A Kenyan passport holder can access 71 destinations around the world without a visa or visa-on-arrival.

Amanda Smit a Managing Partner and Head of South, East, and Central Africa at Henley hailed Kenya’s resilience in retaining the position it previously held.

“The much-considered destinations are the ones which have effectively handled the coronavirus outbreak, and especially those which have declared themselves virus-free. International airline travel is still on halt, but it is to be expected that more people will look at various destinations to settle as soon as airspace is open,” she said as quoted by The Star.

Henley & Partners said the recent ranking did not take temporary bans into account.