Kenyans pay Ksh.163K bribe to get employed, Ksh.74K for passport - EACC

Titled National Ethics and Corruption Survey, 2023, the report seeks to highlight the trends of corruption and unethical conduct in public service delivery. 

According to the report, Kenyans paid an average of Ksh.162,260 to acquire employment; highlighting the dire unemployment crisis in the country. 

Other services were an application for a passport (Ksh.74,428), seeking a police abstract (Ksh.20,300) and obtaining a tender (Ksh.17,000). 

To access services, Kenyans paid the largest bribe to the National Transport and Safety Authority (Ksh.81,801) followed by the Judiciary (Ksh.49,611), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Ksh.40,000) and County Government Offices (Ksh.26,223). 

Other public institutions include Kenya Power (Ksh.23,738), County Public Service Boards (Ksh.17,000), Immigration Department (Ksh.12,570), Kenya Revenue Authority (Ksh.11,430) and the police (Ksh.11,115). 

In terms of county level, Kenyans paid the largest amount of bribe in West Pokot County (Ksh.56,695), followed by Nairobi (Ksh.37,768), Murang'a (Ksh.18,378), Kisii (Ksh.16,810) and Uasin Gishu (Ksh.11,136). 

According to the report, 38 per cent of Kenyans cited that bribery was the only way to access the service while 20 per cent indicated that it was demanded by the service provider. 

19 per cent noted that they paid bribes to hasten the process of acquiring the service and 10.5 per cent paid to avoid problems with authorities. 

The national average bribe increased from Ksh.6,865 in 2022 to Ksh.11,625 in 2023.