Kenya has made progress in the latest global corruption rankings, moving up five places compared to the previous assessment.
A report released by Transparency International on February 11, 2025, placed Kenya at position 121 out of 180 countries. This is an improvement from position 126 in 2023. The country scored 32 points out of a possible 100 in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
The CPI report gathers insights from various data sources, reflecting the views of business leaders and country experts regarding corruption levels in government institutions.
The rankings assess different forms of corruption in the public sector, including bribery, misuse of public funds, abuse of office for personal gain, nepotism in government jobs, and state capture.
Additionally, the report evaluates the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts, such as the government’s ability to enforce integrity measures, prosecute corrupt officials, and address bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Other factors considered include financial disclosure laws, conflict of interest policies, access to public information, and legal protections for whistleblowers, journalists, and investigators.
How the Corruption Perceptions Index is Calculated
The CPI uses 13 different data sources that analyze corruption in a country. These sources are standardized on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 represents extreme corruption, and 100 represents a corruption-free environment.
To ensure consistency over the years, the CPI applies a method that adjusts each country’s score based on historical baseline data from 2012. The process includes:
- Subtracting the baseline average from the country’s score
- Dividing the result by the standard deviation of the baseline year
- Multiplying by the CPI standard deviation from 2012 (which is 20)
- Adding the CPI mean score from 2012 (which is 45)
For a country to be included in the CPI rankings, at least three independent sources must assess it. A country’s final CPI score is determined by averaging all available standardized scores, which are then rounded to the nearest whole number.
Each score also comes with a confidence interval, which shows how much variation exists between different data sources.
Kenya’s Progress, But Corruption Remains a Big Challenge
Although Kenya has improved in the rankings, corruption remains a major problem, threatening economic growth and governance.
A recent report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) identified the National Police Service (NPS) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) as the most corrupt institutions in the country.
The EACC report, released on January 28, 2025, revealed that corruption in these institutions is often facilitated by family members and close associates of government officials.
Other highly corrupt institutions in Kenya include:
- The Ministry of Lands – where bribery and document falsification are common.
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Port Health Services – where officials demand bribes to process documents and allow goods to pass through.
- Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), Kericho Referral Hospital, and Nairobi City County – where corruption in procurement and service delivery is rampant.
How Kenya Compares to Other East African Countries
In East Africa, Kenya ranks fourth in terms of corruption perception. The region’s rankings are as follows:
- Rwanda – 57 points (least corrupt in East Africa)
- Tanzania – 41 points
- Ethiopia – 37 points
- Kenya – 32 points
- Djibouti – 31 points
The worst-performing countries in the region include:
- South Sudan – 8 points (most corrupt in East Africa)
- Somalia – 9 points
- Eritrea – 13 points
- Sudan – 15 points
Africa’s Struggle with Corruption
Transparency International noted that sub-Saharan Africa remains the most corrupt region globally, with many countries lacking strong anti-corruption policies. A key challenge has been weak oversight in handling climate action funds, where money meant for environmental protection is often misused.
The report identified lack of transparency and accountability as the biggest contributors to corruption across Africa. Mismanagement of public funds continues to block development and economic growth.
However, the report also recognized that some African nations have successfully invested in anti-corruption initiatives, leading to noticeable improvements.
While Kenya’s ranking has improved, experts warn that stronger enforcement of anti-corruption laws and better accountability mechanisms are needed to sustain progress.
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