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.
I know this is laughable…
I know this is laughable news to most of you in the diaspora. Your foreign passports are more superior.
White man ranking so they…
White man ranking so they can feel better about themselves. Africa should except herself from such nonsense cos these rankings are only meant to showcase Africa in bad light. However, Africa should work on opening borders more within herself and improving trade.
@Mugikuyu I am in full…
@Mugikuyu I am in full support of your comment. It’s time we reject these ratings by foreigners. We must wake up to tourism and investment by our fellow black brothers and sisters from both the continent and the Diaspora. The useless ratings are used to occupy our country. Superiority, 400 years of slavery and occupation in the name of experts is over. Let them rate and take polls in “White”man nations. We are on our way to put our motherland in order for the pride of the black man on the four corners of the earth!!
You are beyond stupid. These…
You are beyond stupid. These passports are ranked by the number of countries you can enter without a visa. Of course no one wants to let stupid Kenyans in without visas because they will stay as illegal immigrants and work without authorization. Is Mauritius and Seychelles white man nations? No but they have highly ranked passports. Along with Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates. Keep being dumb as a brick blaming the white man for your problems instead of looking in the mirror.
I totally agree with you…
I totally agree with you folks??Personalky i have travelled all over the world but i can surely tell you Africa remains the best place to be even with the issues we have n am happy things in africa r changing for beta even thou they r going slow but one day we will denie visas to this countries which think they own n controls everything.The western world lifestyle is hoax,lies fake life where majority r full of debts n slavery.