Kenya's Passport Climbs: New Visa-Free Opportunities Ahead

The government has intensified its diplomatic efforts, particularly after it emerged that Kenya climbed five places in the Henley passport rankings to 68th globally in 2025. The new placing follows a relatively torrid period for the Kenyan passport, which has been on a worrying decline until recently, when it recorded its best position since it was ranked in 67th position globally in 2023. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the rebound was largely due to deliberate diplomatic efforts which have directly benefited Kenyan citizens. One of the key pillars for the ministry has been regional integration, with the government securing visa-free entry for Kenyans in several economies in Africa, including Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and South Africa, in arrangements that support trade, tourism and labour mobility. PCS As recently as October 2025, Kenya and Senegal signed a landmark bilateral agreement that will allow citizens of both countries to travel without visa restrictions, in another major step toward strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two African nations. The government is now pushing for more regional and global collaborations, anchored in the Foreign Policy Framework 2025. Barely a month into the new year, bilateral talks with partners have been stepped up, with one of the more recent engagements taking place on Wednesday, January 21, when Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei met India’s High Commissioner Dr Adarsh Swaika. They agreed on convening the Joint Commission for Cooperation. Engagements with European superpowers have also intensified as Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in the country on Wednesday for a two-day official visit. France also remains a strategic partner, with Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi having an engagement with MEDEF, France’s employers’ organisation, to advance investment ties. Among the items which were discussed was progress after a March 2025 visit by 28 French companies. Key sectors included energy, transport, defence and digital transformation. Notably, Kenya has been spared in the ongoing economic crackdown by the United States towards some third-world countries , a move which Mudavadi insists is not a coincidence. The Prime CS attributed Kenya’s overall good standing diplomatically to President William Ruto’s consistent engagements with other nations despite criticism over what some critics claim is excessive travelling. “People have been asking why the President has been travelling consistently. Because of those trips, you can see countries like the United States continue to respect us because they can see we are a country of integrity,” Mudavadi said on Tuesday. Mudavadi said the travels have strengthened trust with powers like the United States. He noted that Kenya has avoided restrictions imposed on other countries due to its credibility.