The number of Kenyans awarded student visas to the United States fell by 13.8 percent in the eight months to August amid tighter immigration enforcement in the US.
International Trade Administration—US state agency that promotes exports of non-agricultural American goods and services-- indicates that 3,897 Kenyans received student or F-1 visas, down from 4,519 in the same period a year earlier.
F-1 student visas awarded in the period under review marked the first drop since the Covid-19 pandemic, when it fell 1,396 in 2020 in the wake of the global travel restrictions imposed to control the deadly disease.
The drop comes as the Trump administration has made it more difficult to obtain student visas, with the research suggesting visa application issues like delays and denials are among the top reasons for the decline in first-time students.
The rate of new international students’ enrolment at US universities dropped by 17 percent this autumn, which runs from August to December, compared to previous years.
Foreign students make up about 6 percent of total US enrollment and contributed $55bn (Sh7 trillion) to the economy, according to 2024 figures from the commerce department.
Under the new policy direction, US consular officers apply more rigorous background checks and financial assessments, particularly for applicants from countries perceived to have higher overstay risks.
For student applicants, this has translated into closer scrutiny of funding sources, post-study intentions, and ties to home countries.
The White House has made a number of moves that have limited the number of foreign students, most who pay higher tuition rates, in the US. Earlier this year, the Trump administration paused scheduling visa appointments for international students.
In June, when those resumed, the administration announced it would screen visa applications more closely, including by asking all applicants to allow their social media accounts to be checked.
Despite the Kenyan dip, Africa remains a key growth market. A total of 41,463 F-1 visas were awarded across the continent during the period.
Nigeria led with 8,682 approvals, followed by Ghana (6,111) and South Africa (4,121).
Kenya ranked fourth, ahead of Morocco and Ethiopia, underscoring its continued importance even amid tighter controls.
