Kenya has secured a place among Africa’s 10 best-governed countries, ranking 10th out of 54 nations in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), in a report that recognises progress in economic opportunities and human development while highlighting persistent weaknesses in security, accountability and the rule of law.
The latest assessment, released by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation on October 31, 2026, awarded Kenya 61 points out of 100, placing it above the continental average of 50.1 and the Eastern Africa regional average of 47.5.
The ranking puts Kenya ahead of several regional neighbours, including Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda, which ranked 14th, was the only immediate regional neighbour assessed that placed ahead of Kenya.
However, the report presents a mixed picture of the country’s governance record, revealing that improvements in some sectors have been accompanied by deterioration in others.
According to the assessment, Kenya’s overall governance score improved by just 0.9 points between 2016 and 2025, indicating relatively modest progress over the decade.
Security and rule of law emerge as major weaknesses
One of the most concerning findings in the report is Kenya’s declining performance in security and the rule of law.
The category recorded a 4.2-point decline over the assessment period, falling to 54 points and becoming the only one of the four major governance categories to register deterioration.
The findings point to challenges surrounding public safety, the administration of justice, institutional accountability and respect for constitutional rights.
The country’s perception of the rule of law declined by 20.1 points to 37.3, while the public perception of anti-corruption efforts fell by 10.8 points to 27.9.
The absence of corruption in the public sector also remained a concern, scoring 35.6 points after declining by 4.8 points.
Public procurement was another particularly weak area, recording just 29.7 points following a significant 36.4-point decline over the decade.
These indicators highlight continuing concerns about transparency, the management of public resources and the effectiveness of institutions responsible for enforcing accountability.
The findings come amid ongoing public debate in Kenya over corruption, police accountability, insecurity and the protection of civil liberties.
Progress recorded in economic opportunities and human development
Despite the weaknesses, Kenya recorded improvements in several areas that contributed to its overall position.
The Foundations for Economic Opportunity category registered the strongest improvement, gaining 4.1 points to reach 65.3.
The category examines the conditions that enable economic activity, including infrastructure, business development and the broader economic environment.
Participation, Rights and Inclusion improved by 1.9 points to 62.4, while Human Development gained 1.7 points to reach 62.3.
These improvements suggest that Kenya has continued making progress in expanding access to essential services and creating opportunities for economic participation.
The report also identified notable gains in access to electricity, internet connectivity and education.
Protection against discrimination improved by 33.3 points, while internet access gained 21.9 points and access to energy increased by 20.8 points.
Education completion improved by 13.5 points to 89.9, while mobile communications gained 16.4 points to reach 85.5.
These developments demonstrate the importance of infrastructure investment and access to public services in strengthening governance outcomes.
Kenya performs ahead of most East African neighbours
Kenya’s 10th-place ranking places it among the leading governance performers on the continent and ahead of most countries in Eastern Africa.
Rwanda ranked 14th, Tanzania 18th and Uganda 28th.
Ethiopia was ranked 30th, while Burundi occupied position 43. The Democratic Republic of Congo ranked 48th and Somalia came in at 53rd.
The regional comparisons demonstrate the differences in governance performance across Eastern Africa.
While Kenya performed relatively strongly in economic opportunity and human development, its declining security and rule of law indicators remain a concern.
The rankings also show that a country’s overall governance position does not necessarily mean that it performs equally well in every area.
Seychelles leads Africa as South Sudan ranks last
At the continental level, Seychelles emerged as Africa’s best-governed country in the 2026 assessment.
Mauritius ranked second, followed by Cabo Verde, Botswana and South Africa, which completed the top five.
Kenya occupied the 10th position, placing it among the continent’s strongest overall performers.
At the opposite end of the rankings, South Sudan came last in 54th position, preceded by Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and the Central African Republic.
The rankings reflect differences in institutional performance, public service delivery, security, political participation and economic opportunities across the continent.
What the Ibrahim Index measures
The Ibrahim Index of African Governance is an initiative of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, established by Sudanese-British businessman and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim.
Published since 2007, the index evaluates governance performance across all 54 African countries using a comprehensive framework covering political, social, economic and environmental outcomes.
The 2026 assessment examines performance over the 10-year period from 2016 to 2025.
It draws on 96 indicators from 51 data sources, organised into four major categories:
- Security and Rule of Law: Examines public safety, justice, accountability and the effectiveness of legal institutions.
- Participation, Rights and Inclusion: Measures democratic participation, civil liberties, human rights and inclusion.
- Foundations for Economic Opportunity: Assesses infrastructure, economic management and the conditions necessary for sustainable economic activity.
Human Development: Evaluates access to education, healthcare, social protection and other essential public services.
The index is designed to measure how effectively African governments provide the public goods and services citizens are entitled to expect.
It also incorporates public perception indicators, helping to compare institutional performance with citizens’ experiences.
Mo Ibrahim warns against sacrificing accountability for development
Mo Ibrahim, founder and chairman of the foundation, has cautioned that improvements in economic and social development cannot be sustained without progress in security, the rule of law and public participation.
He warned that governments should not treat economic development as a substitute for strengthening democratic institutions and protecting citizens’ rights.
The foundation’s broader findings show that security and rule of law deteriorated in 34 African countries, representing approximately 78 per cent of the continent’s population.
Participation, Rights and Inclusion also declined in 31 countries, covering 60 per cent of Africa’s population.
The findings suggest that governance challenges are not unique to Kenya but form part of a wider continental problem.
