The latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International has ranked Kenya position 123 out of 180 countries worldwide.
The report states that Kenya scored 32 points out of 100 in 2022, up from 30 points in 2021.
Transparency International is a Non-Governmental Organization that measures corruption.
Moreover, CPI ranks countries based on their perceived levels of public sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys
Likewise, the perceived amount of public sector corruption is measured on a scale of 0-100, with 0 indicating severely corrupt and 100 indicating clean.
Transparency International highlighted corruption as the main issue in many of the elections conducted last year including Kenya’s August 9 polls.
“Integrity of the vote itself also remained a concern. In Kenya (32), the election highlighted the urgent need for public scrutiny of political financing,” the report states.
The anti-corruption watchdog report ranked Somalia at the very bottom of the CPI, both regionally and globally with 12 points out of 100.
The anti-corruption watchdog report attributes Somalia’s poor performance to the unending violence and instability for over three decades, with no means available to curb rampant corruption.
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Nevertheless, Denmark was ranked the least corrupt country with 90 points followed by New Zealand (87), Finland (87), Norway (84) and Singapore (83).
The report further indicates that many counties like Kenya lack standalone laws on whistleblower protection thus, undermining the war against corruption in the region.
According to the report, those who have taken a stand against corruption continue to face intimidation and threats due to lack of laws protecting them.
“This can be seen in Madagascar where the executive director and board chair of Transparency International’s national chapter are facing criminal charges after calling for investigations into companies involved in the Malagasy lychee trade,” the report states.