Kenya yet again rated among most corrupt countries

Samuel Kimeu Executive Director Transparency International Kenya at a Nairobi hotel during the launch of a new report "The East African Bribery Index Trend analysis 2010 -2014'

Kenya has yet again been ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world.

A new report released yesterday by Transparency International (TI) Kenya shows the country was ranked 139 out of 168 in the 2015 Global Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

Speaking yesterday during the release of the results, TI Executive Director Samuel Kimeu said despite concerted efforts by the State to fight the vice, Kenya scored 25 on a scale of zero to 100, the same score recorded in 2014.

"Zero is perceived to be highly corrupt and 100 very clean. Kenya's score is below the global average of 43 and sub-Saharan Africa's mean of 33. Kenya had a score of 27 in 2013 and was ranked number 145, demonstrating that efforts to tackle corruption have borne few results," said Mr Kimeu.

According to the report, Kenya tied with Uganda at position 139 globally, with Rwanda being the top performer in the East Africa region at number 44. Tanzania was at number 117 while Burundi came last in the region at number 150.

Botswana took the lead among the African countries involved in the survey after it emerged 28. Cape Verde and Seychelles, which both scored 55, were ranked at position 40, with Mauritius and Namibia tied at number 45, one position behind Rwanda.

"Kenya can draw key lessons from the top performing countries in the 2015 CPI. Generally, they have high levels of press freedom, stronger access to information systems and budget transparency," said Kimeu.