Kenya Shines in Global English Proficiency Rankings:3rd in Africa, 19th Worldwide

Kenya: A Global Voice in English Proficiency

What the Rankings Mean

The EF EPI evaluates English ability through standardized testing among adults in 123 countries and regions. In 2025, the index expanded its methodology to include speaking and writing assessments, alongside reading and listening, offering a fuller picture of real-world communication.

Kenya’s 19th place globally positions it ahead of many countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America where English also plays a central role in business and education. Within Africa, Kenya follows South Africa and Zimbabwe (both tied at 13th globally), reinforcing its role as a continental leader in communication and connectivity.

Why Kenya Performs So Well

Kenya’s strong ranking is the result of several reinforcing factors working in tandem:

• Official Role of English: English is one of Kenya’s official languages and is deeply embedded in government, law and public institutions.
• Education System: From primary school through university, English serves as the primary medium of instruction, ensuring fluency across generations.
• Media and Professional Use: English dominates newspapers, television, radio, corporate communication and the digital economy, extending its use well beyond classrooms into everyday life.

This combination of structured learning and constant practical use has created a culture of fluency that cuts across regions, professions and age groups.

English in Everyday Kenya: A Living Language

Walk into a Kenyan classroom and you will hear lively debates, presentations and storytelling unfolding in English, often punctuated with laughter, confidence and sharp critical thinking. Turn on the radio or scroll through Kenyan digital media and English blends seamlessly with local languages, shaping commentary, comedy, tech discourse and activism.

In Nairobi’s tech hubs and co-working spaces, young entrepreneurs pitch ideas to global investors, write code documentation, negotiate contracts and build international networks — all in fluent, functional English. Language here is not ornamental; it is a working tool actively shaping futures.

What the Ranking Says About Kenya’s Global Role

In a world where English remains the lingua franca of diplomacy, trade, academia and technology, Kenya’s strong performance carries real-world implications:

• International Business: High proficiency strengthens Kenya’s appeal for foreign investment, outsourcing and cross-border partnerships.
• Academic Mobility: Kenyan students and researchers are well-positioned to participate in global scholarship and collaborative research.
• Diplomacy and Leadership: English enhances Kenya’s role as a regional mediator and communicator, allowing it to act as a bridge between Africa and the wider world.

Language, in this context, becomes soft power, enabling Kenya to influence, negotiate and connect beyond its borders.

A Legacy and a Future

Kenya’s proficiency in English is partly rooted in its colonial history under British rule, which entrenched the language in governance and education. But today, that legacy is being reshaped. It intersects with a youthful population, a rapidly expanding tech sector, creative industries and a globally engaged diaspora. The result is not passive inheritance but active ownership, English used as a tool for innovation, expression and growth.

While English proficiency has plateaued in parts of the world, Kenya’s consistency and adaptability position it as a resilient communicator, ready for the demands of an increasingly interconnected future.