U.S Department of State issues new directive affecting thousands of Kenyans with American passports

Friday, May 08, 2026 - The U.S Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, has rolled out a tough new directive that could affect thousands of Kenyans living abroad with U.S citizenship.

The Government announced that passports belonging to individuals with “significant” unpaid child support debt will now face revocation.

The policy, unveiled on Friday, May 8^th, targets Americans who owe more than $2,500 (about Ksh322,000) in child support arrears.

Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the move is part of a renewed push to enforce compliance, with officials stressing that non‑compliant parents must settle their debts with state enforcement agencies before they can qualify for a valid passport.

For Kenyans holding dual citizenship, the impact could be dramatic.

Those abroad when their passports are revoked will only be issued limited‑validity travel documents, allowing direct return to the U.S but no further international travel.

In essence, unpaid child support could ground your global mobility.

“To be eligible for a U.S passport, you must pay any outstanding child support.” The Department of State emphasized.

While the government has long denied new passport applications for defaulters, this latest directive signals a sharper crackdown.

Affected individuals have been urged to contact state child support enforcement agencies immediately and arrange repayment plans.

Once debts are cleared, eligibility for a new passport is restored.

The Kenyan DAILY POST