Kenya ranks 13th in Africa in 2017 Mo Ibrahim governance index

Kenya has continued to register improvements in the last five years in terms of governance, according to the latest Ibrahim Index of African Governance.

Ibrahim Index provides an annual statistical assessment of the quality of governance in every African country by measuring safety and rule of law, participation and Human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and Human development.

The report found varying results in different countries across the region with some improving while other slowing down and shutting down the accountability space in their countries.

Mo Ibrahim, Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation welcomed the news but urged vigilance in ensuring the governance progress is sustained.

“As the index shows us, overall governance in Africa is improving. This is good news. However, the slowing and in some cases even reversing trends in a large number of countries, and in some key dimensions of governance, means that we must be vigilant. Without vigilance and sustained efforts, the progress of recent years could be in danger of vanishing.” He said.

Worldwide, Africa overall governance score stood at 50.8 out of 100 with safety and rule of law (52.8), participation and Human rights (49.4), sustainable economic opportunity (45.1) and Human development (56.1) which translated to a slowing Improvement overall governance trend.

In Africa, Mauritius led the pack with an overall governance score of 81.4 out of 100, followed by Seychelles at 73.4 and thirdly Botswana at 72.7.

Kenya ranked at position 13 out of 54 countries scooping an overall governance score of 59.3 out of 100 compared to position 12th with a score of 58.9 out of 100 in 2016.

Kenya’s safety and rule of law score was (56.8), participation and Human rights (56.2), sustainable economic opportunity (57.2) and Human development (67.1) which translated to an Annual average improvement over both periods, accelerating in the last five years.

In East Africa, Rwanda led the pack with an overall score of 63.9 to emerge at position nine, Tanzania scored 57.5 to stand at position 17, Uganda was position 19 with 56.5, Ethiopia stood at position 36 with 47.7 and Burundi scooped 39.9 to be ranked at position 44 in the continent.