Kenya has retained its position among Africa's 10 best-governed countries, ranking tenth out of 54 in a new continental assessment. The 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance 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. This ranking is significant as it reflects Kenya's overall governance performance between 2016 and 2025.
Despite its ranking, Kenya's performance reveals a troubling contradiction: while the country has recorded progress in economic opportunities, human development and inclusion over the past decade, its security and rule of law indicators have deteriorated. The index examined governance performance across four categories and found that Kenya's security and rule of law index declined by 4.2 points to 54, making it the only one of the four major governance categories to register deterioration.
Kenya's weakest indicators included public procurement procedures, which scored 29.7 points, a decline of 36.4 points over the decade. Public perception of the ease of obtaining identity documents scored 22.5, down 13 points, while freedom of association and assembly stood at 25 points, having declined by 12.5 points. These areas highlight significant challenges that Kenya needs to address to improve its governance.
However, Kenya recorded significant improvements in several areas, including protection against discrimination, which gained 33.3 points, internet access, which improved by 21.9 points, and access to energy, which rose 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 improvements demonstrate Kenya's progress in specific areas of governance.
Kenya's ranking puts it ahead of most countries in the region, including Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda was the only country among the immediate regional counterparts assessed that ranked above Kenya, emerging 14th with an improving governance trajectory. This regional comparison highlights the varying governance trajectories among Kenya's neighbours.
At the continental level, the 2026 IIAG warns that improvements in economic and human development are being threatened by deteriorating security and democratic participation. The index found that overall governance had improved slightly over the decade despite multiple global shocks, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war. These global challenges have had a significant impact on governance across Africa.
Seychelles topped the continental ranking, followed by Mauritius, Cabo Verde, Botswana and South Africa. Mo Ibrahim, chairman and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, warned against governments prioritising economic and social development at the expense of security, the rule of law and public participation. He emphasised that economic and social gains will not last without improvements in these fundamental governance pillars.
Key points
- Kenya ranked 10th in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance with 61 points out of 100.
- Kenya's security and rule of law indicators have deteriorated over the past decade, declining by 4.2 points to 54.
- The 2026 IIAG warns that improvements in economic and human development are being threatened by deteriorating security and democratic participation across Africa.
