Kenya ranked 132nd in 2026 Global Peace Index as regional conflicts raise security concerns

Kenya, located in East Africa, has been ranked 132nd out of 163 countries in the 2026 Global Peace Index, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This ranking is influenced by regional and global security challenges, according to the Institute's report. Acting Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, Andrew Barnes, highlighted the interconnectedness of global events and the impact they can have on a nation's security.

He said, "In an increasingly interconnected world, events in one part of the globe can have consequences far beyond national borders, a reality that many countries in East Africa know well."

The index assesses a country's peacefulness using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators, including societal safety, ongoing domestic and international conflicts, and militarisation. The Institute's founder and executive chairman, Steve Killelea, emphasized that Kenya's position should be viewed within the broader regional and global security context. He explained, "Kenya's position in the Global Peace Index 2026 should be understood within a broader regional and global context."

The Horn of Africa, comprising Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, and South Sudan, is identified as a region facing significant security challenges. Conflicts in the region are interconnected through various mechanisms such as displacement, arms circulation, rebel sanctuaries, proxy warfare, ethnic mobilisation, illicit economies, and weak state capacity.

The report highlights the war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, as a major source of regional pressure. As of early 2025, approximately 30 million people required humanitarian assistance, while over 12 million had been displaced, with 9 million being internally displaced and 3.5 million crossing international borders. The conflict has also resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths.

Kenya has been actively involved in regional peace and security efforts through mediation, humanitarian support, peace operations, and regional organisations. Despite these contributions, the country remains one of 119 countries that have become less peaceful than they were in 2008. The deterioration in global peacefulness has been driven by conflict, with 61 active state-based conflicts reported in 2024, the highest number since the end of World War II.

Conflict-related deaths have surged by more than sixfold since 2008, from 29,000 to over 181,000 in a single year. Additionally, military expenditures have increased, with 97 countries raising their spending as a share of GDP, compared to 44 countries that reduced their military budgets. The report also notes the rise of "Great Fragmentation," characterized by geopolitical shifts and an increase in countries involved in external conflicts.