OCCRP Ranks Kenya’s Ruto Among World’s Most Corrupt Leaders

• Dec 31, 2024

Kenyan President William Ruto has been named the second most corrupt leader globally in the 2024 report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Syria's ousted President Bashar al-Assad topped the list for his regime's reliance on organized crime, human rights abuses, and the drug trade.

The OCCRP rankings spotlight leaders whose corruption and abuse of power have caused immense harm. This year’s list drew a record 40,000 public nominations, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with global leadership.

Assad Tops the List

Bashar al-Assad, named OCCRP's "Corrupt Person of the Year," led a brutal regime in Syria that relied on the production and trafficking of Captagon, a highly addictive drug. This illicit trade generated billions, funding Assad’s oppressive security apparatus.

Investigations by OCCRP and media partners revealed that the drug trade expanded across Syria’s borders, straining relations with neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon. Assad’s leadership was also marked by mass executions, torture, and chemical weapon attacks on civilians. Despite his ouster, he fled to Russia with reportedly billions in stolen wealth, leaving Syria in ruins.

Ruto: A People’s Choice for Corruption

President Ruto’s ranking was driven by over 40,000 public nominations from Kenyans frustrated by economic mismanagement, corruption, and poor governance.

One of the key issues was Kenya’s controversial finance bill, criticized for placing heavy burdens on the poor and middle class without addressing systemic corruption. Protests erupted nationwide, met with heavy-handed responses from security forces. Allegations of mismanagement, embezzlement, and questionable international deals further tarnished Ruto’s administration.

Public frustration was evident in OCCRP’s report, with one Kenyan noting, “He’s stealing everything, including public funds; people are suffering without healthcare, and poverty is growing daily.”

Special Recognition for Obiang

Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang received OCCRP’s first-ever “Lifetime Non-Achievement Award.” In power since 1979, Obiang’s rule has been marked by fear, repression, and massive looting of public resources, leaving his oil-rich country impoverished.

Broader Implications

The OCCRP rankings reveal a troubling pattern: unchecked power and systemic corruption erode nations. From Syria to Kenya and Equatorial Guinea, these leaders’ actions have devastated their countries economically and socially.

Kenya’s overwhelming public nominations highlight the power of civic engagement in demanding accountability. However, meaningful change requires stronger anti-corruption frameworks, transparency, and support for whistleblowers and civil society worldwide.

The OCCRP report serves as a call to action, urging leaders and citizens alike to fight corruption and build a better future.