Kenya's passport issuance fell 36.7% to 393,567 in 2025 from 621,794 in 2024, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The government removed the 32-page option in July 2025 and the 50-page booklet from eCitizen in February 2026. Public sentiment attributes the decline largely to higher costs.
Passport issuance in Kenya dropped 36.7% to 393,567 in 2025 from 621,794 in 2024, marking the steepest decline in four years, according to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
In July 2025, the government discontinued the 32-page passport booklet for new applicants, citing operational and supply constraints. This left applicants with two options: the 50-page booklet at Ksh 9,500 and the 66-page version at Ksh 12,500. The 50-page option was quietly withdrawn from the eCitizen platform for new applicants in February 2026.
The decline has been linked to weaker demand, rising costs, and economic pressures on households. Public sentiment points to the removal of lower-cost booklets as a key factor, though the government has announced reforms to reduce processing times to 72 hours for some applicants.
Despite the drop, Kenya's passport strength improved, rising from 69th to 64th globally in the Henley & Partners report published in March 2026. Regionally, it now ranks 10th in Africa.
