Kenya Drops to Position 130 in Corruption Index as Singapore Ranks Among Least Corrupt Nations

Kenya’s battle against corruption has suffered a major setback after the country dropped in the latest global corruption rankings.

According to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International (TI), Kenya is now ranked 130 out of 182 countries, down from position 121 in 2024. This means the country has lost several places in just one year, raising fresh concerns about the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.

In the report, Kenya scored 30 points out of 100, a decline from 32 points recorded in 2024. The score shows that corruption remains a serious problem in the public sector despite repeated promises by the government to fight graft.

Growing Concern Over Corruption in Kenya

The drop in ranking comes at a time when many Kenyans are frustrated by corruption cases that rarely end in convictions. Several high-profile cases have collapsed in court, while charges against powerful individuals have been withdrawn, creating a perception of widespread impunity among political leaders.

Transparency International Kenya noted that corruption in the country is no longer limited to isolated incidents but has become deeply rooted in government systems. The organisation also blamed weak enforcement of anti-corruption laws and poor implementation of leadership and integrity standards in the Constitution.

Sub-Saharan Africa Still Struggling

The report also shows that Sub-Saharan Africa remains the worst-performing region globally, with an average score of 32 points out of 100. Only a few African countries managed to score above 50 points, including Botswana, Rwanda, Cabo Verde, and Seychelles.

Seychelles emerged as the best-performing country in the region with 68 points, followed by Cabo Verde with 62 points. The report further revealed that while some countries have improved since 2012, many others have recorded significant declines, highlighting ongoing governance challenges across the continent.

Global Corruption Trends

On the global stage, the average corruption score stood at 42 points out of 100, the lowest level recorded in more than ten years. Denmark topped the rankings with 89 points, followed by Finland and Singapore. Somalia and South Sudan were ranked among the worst-performing countries in the index.

Government Under Pressure

The Kenya Kwanza administration has faced repeated accusations of corruption across various institutions. President William Ruto has previously warned Members of Parliament against turning parliamentary committees into platforms for extortion. Speaking during the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, the president accused some MPs of demanding bribes from government officials in exchange for favourable reports.

The latest ranking adds pressure on the government to strengthen anti-corruption measures and restore public trust in state institutions.