NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has been ranked 121st out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI-Kenya).
Despite a slight improvement, the country remains below both regional and global averages, signaling persistent governance challenges.
Kenya’s CPI score rose marginally to 32 out of 100, up from 31 in 2023.
However, the country continues to lag behind the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 33 points and the global average of 43.
A score below 50 indicates severe public sector corruption, underscoring the country’s ongoing struggle to curb graft despite increasing public awareness and civic engagement.
“Kenya’s performance remains largely stagnant, reflecting persistent corruption challenges,” TI-Kenya said in a statement released on February 11.
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Within East Africa, Rwanda led the region with 57 points, improving from 53 in 2023.
Tanzania also made slight progress, scoring 41, up from 40 the previous year.
Uganda remained at 26, while Burundi recorded a decline, dropping from 20 to 17.
Other Sub-Saharan African nations that outperformed the global average include Seychelles (72 points), Cabo Verde (62), Botswana (57), Mauritius (51), Namibia (49), and São Tomé and Príncipe (45).
The CPI, which ranks countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, is compiled from 13 data sources from 12 institutions, capturing corruption perceptions over the past two years.
Denmark, Finland, and Singapore topped the index with scores of 90, 88, and 84, respectively, while South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela ranked at the bottom with 8, 9, and 10 points.
More than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, highlighting corruption as a persistent global issue.
Transparency International Board Chairperson François Valérian warned that corruption is more than just an obstacle to development—it fuels democratic decline, instability, and human rights violations.
“The international community and every nation must make tackling corruption a top priority. This is crucial in resisting authoritarianism and securing a peaceful, free, and sustainable world,” Valérian stated.
The report also highlights the link between corruption and climate change, showing that countries with lower corruption levels are generally better equipped to address climate challenges.
In Kenya, the lack of transparency in climate financing, such as the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program and the carbon credit market, has hindered climate action.
Mismanagement of funds and inadequate public disclosures on carbon credit activities have raised concerns over the effectiveness of these initiatives.
TI-Kenya has called for stronger anti-corruption measures within climate programs to prevent fund misallocation and abuse.
Strengthening community engagement, independent oversight, and grievance redress mechanisms are crucial steps toward ensuring that climate funds are used effectively and transparently.
Kenya’s CPI score has remained relatively unchanged over the past five years, inching up from 31 in 2020 to 32 in 2024.
While civic engagement has grown, TI-Kenya stresses the need for sustained efforts to demand accountability from leadership, integrate integrity into governance, and strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms at all levels.
