Kenya has been ranked 121 out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by Transparency International (TI). The country scored 32 out of 100, marking a slight improvement from its 2023 score of 31. However, Kenya remains below both the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 33 and the global average of 43, indicating persistent corruption challenges in the public sector.
A score below 50 signals serious levels of corruption, and Kenya’s stagnation over the past five years from 31 points in 2020 to 32 in 2024 demonstrates the difficulty of achieving meaningful progress. Transparency International Kenya (TI-K) attributes this to entrenched public sector corruption despite increased civic engagement and public awareness efforts.
Within East Africa, Kenya lags behind Rwanda, which leads the region with a score of 57, improving from 53 in 2023. Tanzania made slight progress, scoring 41 (up from 40 in 2023), while Uganda remained at 26 points. Burundi’s situation worsened, dropping from 20 points in 2023 to 17 in 2024.
Globally, Denmark, Finland, and Singapore topped the index with scores of 90, 88, and 84, respectively. At the bottom were South Sudan (8), Somalia (9), and Venezuela (10), underscoring the widespread nature of corruption. The 2024 CPI report highlights that over two-thirds of countries scored below 50, reflecting the continued pervasiveness of corruption worldwide.
The CPI 2024 also emphasizes the role of corruption in obstructing climate action. Countries with lower corruption levels tend to be better prepared to tackle climate challenges, but even they often fail due to corporate influence. The report notes that nearly all murders of environmental defenders since 2019 occurred in countries with CPI scores below 50.
In Kenya, corruption has hampered initiatives like the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program and the carbon credit market. Lack of transparency in climate financing, mismanagement of funds, and inadequate public disclosures have hindered effective climate responses.
To combat corruption, TI-Kenya urges the integration of anti-corruption measures into governance and climate initiatives. Strengthening community engagement, independent oversight, and grievance redress mechanisms can ensure the effective use of climate funds. Additionally, civic participation remains crucial. Kenyans must continue to demand accountability and uphold the rule of law to foster transparency and curb corruption.
With corruption threatening democracy, stability, and sustainable development, the call for urgent and concrete action has never been more critical. Only through a collective and persistent effort can Kenya hope to rise in the global transparency rankings and build a more accountable future.
