More Kenyans paid bribes to access public services in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest National Ethics and Corruption Survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The report, released Tuesday, August 5, shows that offering bribes was the most common form of corruption, accounting for 52.1 per cent, compared to 41.9 per cent of respondents who admitted to receiving bribes.
Public officers accused of soliciting the most bribes include police officers, staff at the National Registration Bureau, medical workers, land registry, and immigration officials.Other widespread unethical practices cited in the report include favouritism, abuse of office, tribalism, and nepotism.
The number of Kenyans who reported paying unauthorised fees while seeking government services rose to 25.4 per cent up from 17.7 per cent in 2023. "Most of the respondents (43.3 per cent) paid a bribe because it was demanded, followed by 23.3 per cent who indicated it was the only way to access a service and 18 percent who paid to avoid delay in service," read part of the report.
