Kenya still ranks below average in corruption fight

Kenya’s corruption level has once again fallen below the global average, a recent assessment has revealed.

In the recent rankings released on February 11, 2025, Kenya ranks 121 out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index.

Transparency International ranked countries as per their levels of public sector corruption where Kenya scored 32 points out of 100, failing to meet the global average of 43 points.

The rankings unearthed worrying trends of how corruption is becoming a major threat to climate action. 

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Although the current rankings are Kenya’s highest score since 2012, the scores indicate a modest improvement from 31 to the current 32 points. Despite the improvement, Kenya is among 90 per cent of countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region that failed to score at least 50 points. 

The Corruption Perception Index is a global ranking that measures how corrupt each country’s public sector is perceived to be according to experts and business people.

“While 32 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, there is still a huge amount of work to be done. 148 countries have stayed stagnant or gotten worse during the same period. The global average of 43 has also stood still for years, while over two-thirds of countries score below 50,” Transparency International noted in the report.

According to the organisation, the scores and rankings of each country are reached after determining various issues within the public sector. Cases of bribery, diversion of public funds, officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences, and nepotism are considered, among other factors.

According to the organisation’s regional advisors for Africa, the Sub-Saharan Africa region registered the lowest average score on the Corruption Perceptions Index with 90 percent of the countries scoring below 50.

In Africa, the highest scorers include Seychelles with 72 scores, Cabo Verde( 62), Botswana (57) and Rwanda(57). South Sudan was ranked the most corrupt among the 180 countries with a score of 8, followed by Somalia (9), Eritrea(13) and Equatorial Guinea(13). Across the continent, countries including Angola, Cote D’Ivoire, and Tanzania are among the significant improvers.

The 2024 Corruption Perception Index delved into how corruption is hindering effective climate action. It revealed how funds intended to help countries cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable populations are stolen or misused. 

The ranking also unearthed how corruption obstructs policies aimed at addressing the climate crisis.

“Many nations with high CPI scores have the resources and power to drive corruption-resistant climate action around the world, but instead they often serve the interests of fossil fuels companies,” Transparency International noted.

While climate funds, the report notes, are a cornerstone of global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, countries with a low readiness to adapt to climate change and in need of funds often struggle to control corruption.

“Between 2012 and 2021, the top ten recipients of climate finance scored under CPI global average of 43,” the report highlights.

It points out that bribery, fraud, and kickbacks play a critical role in enabling illegal exploitation of forests, wildlife, and fisheries.