2023 Survey: Kenyans paid more bribes than other years

Summary:

• A recent survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission reveals a spike in bribery incidents among Kenyans in 2023 compared to previous years. The national average bribe increased significantly, with passport services being the most common target. Certain counties and public institutions are particularly prone to bribery, indicating widespread corruption challenges.

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A recent survey conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has uncovered an alarming trend: an increase in bribery incidents among Kenyans in 2023 compared to previous years.

The average bribe paid nationally surged from Sh6,865 in 2022 to Sh11,625 in 2023, indicating a significant escalation. The survey, titled the National Ethics and Corruption Survey, further highlights that 35.8 per cent of Kenyans resort to bribery to expedite passport services. Similarly, 22.1 per cent engage in bribery for employment opportunities, 11.5 per cent for obtaining Police abstracts, and 10.3 per cent for bailing out arrested individuals.

In terms of geographical distribution, the survey identifies Busia County as having a higher likelihood of bribery demands compared to others, with Baringo, Nairobi, Nakuru, and Machakos counties also ranking high on the list of corruption-prone regions.

Furthermore, the survey reveals that traffic police, the County Health Department, and regular police are the top three public institutions susceptible to bribery. Moreover, bribery is commonly reported when seeking business registration, TSC numbers, relief food, tenders, and vehicle transfer services.

A significant finding from the survey is that 89.4 per cent of respondents are aware of the forms of corruption prevalent in public service. Among these, giving bribes constitutes the most common form at 41.0 per cent, followed by receiving bribes at 21.2 per cent, abuse of office at 20.0 per cent, favoritism at 13.6 per cent, tribalism and nepotism at 7.5 per cent, and extortion at 6.9 per cent.

The likelihood indicator provided by the survey highlights that individuals seeking police security services face a high probability of encountering bribery demands, estimated at 1.41 times on average.