NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s fight against corruption has taken a worrying turn, with the country sliding further down the global rankings, according to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Monday, February 10.
Kenya now ranks 130th out of 182 countries, marking an eight-place drop from last year’s position of 121. The country scored 30 out of 100 points, down from 32 points in 2024, signalling growing concerns over entrenched corruption despite years of reforms and anti-graft pledges.
Transparency International (TI), which publishes the annual index, highlighted Sub-Saharan Africa as the worst-performing region globally, with an average score of 32 out of 100. Only Botswana, Rwanda, Cabo Verde, and Seychelles scored above 50 points, with Seychelles leading at 68 points.
The report paints a grim picture for Kenya amid rising public frustration over high-profile corruption cases that collapse in court, the dropping of charges against influential figures, and a perception of impunity among political elites.
Sheila Masinde, Executive Director of Transparency International Kenya, attributed the poor ranking to systemic weaknesses across government institutions.
“Kenya’s latest score indicates that corruption is no longer a series of isolated incidents; it has evolved into a sophisticated, resilient system that has permeated all levels of government,” Masinde said.
She pointed to weak enforcement of anti-corruption laws, particularly provisions in the Constitution meant to bar corrupt individuals from holding public office.
“With few high-profile convictions secured for corruption cases, coupled with the disturbing pattern of case withdrawals, many offenders have escaped punishment, perpetuating impunity,” Masinde added.
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Globally, the CPI revealed an equally concerning trend, with the worldwide average score dropping to 42 out of 100, the lowest in over a decade. Denmark topped the index with 89 points, followed by Finland at 88 and Singapore at 84, while Somalia and South Sudan ranked last.
In Kenya, public scrutiny has focused on government institutions under the Kenya Kwanza administration, which has faced repeated accusations of corruption.
President William Ruto recently issued a stern warning to Members of Parliament during the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, alleging that some committees were operating as “extortion rings.”
He claimed that certain MPs were demanding bribes from state officers, governors, and ministers in exchange for favourable committee reports, a pattern that critics say undermines both governance and public trust.
