Kenya Ranks 121st in 2024 Global Corruption Perception Index

• Feb 11, 2025

Kenya has been ranked 121st out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s (TI) 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), scoring 32 out of 100. While this marks a slight improvement from 31 in 2023, the country remains below the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 33 and far from the global average of 43, highlighting ongoing corruption challenges.

A score below 50 indicates serious corruption issues, and Kenya’s performance over the past five years—from 31 in 2020 to 32 in 2024—shows slow progress. Transparency International Kenya (TI-K) attributes this to deep-rooted public sector corruption, despite growing public awareness and civic engagement efforts.

Kenya’s Standing in East Africa

Compared to its East African neighbors, Kenya lags behind Rwanda, which leads the region with a score of 57, up from 53 in 2023. Tanzania improved slightly to 41 from 40 in the previous year, while Uganda remained at 26. Meanwhile, Burundi’s ranking worsened, falling from 20 in 2023 to 17 in 2024.

Global Corruption Trends

Denmark (90), Finland (88), and Singapore (84) topped the 2024 CPI as the least corrupt countries. On the other end of the spectrum, South Sudan (8), Somalia (9), and Venezuela (10) ranked the lowest, reinforcing the global challenge of corruption. The report also found that more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, indicating widespread corruption worldwide.

Corruption’s Impact on Climate Action

The report highlights how corruption weakens climate action efforts. Countries with lower corruption levels are better positioned to handle climate-related challenges, yet corporate influence often hampers their effectiveness. Additionally, nearly all murders of environmental activists since 2019 have occurred in countries scoring below 50.

In Kenya, corruption has affected key climate initiatives such as the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program and the carbon credit market. Mismanagement of funds, lack of transparency in climate financing, and poor public disclosure have hindered effective climate action.

The Way Forward

TI-Kenya urges the government to integrate anti-corruption measures into governance and climate initiatives. Strengthening independent oversight, community engagement, and grievance mechanisms is essential for ensuring accountability in public projects. Kenyans must also play an active role by demanding transparency and holding leaders accountable.

Corruption remains a major threat to democracy, stability, and sustainable development. Only through persistent and collective efforts can Kenya improve its ranking and build a more transparent and accountable future.