Kenya, Aug. 5 -- The Kenya national average bribe has plummeted from Ksh11,625 in 2023 to Ksh4,878 in 2024, largely due to inflation and economic pressures, according to the 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday.
Despite the significant drop, the report highlights persistent corruption in public services, with 30.5% of Kenyans reporting bribe demands in 2024, up from 25% in 2023, as inflation-driven financial constraints force citizens to negotiate lower bribes or avoid payments altogether.
The findings, drawn from 5,960 households across 47 counties, underscore the complex interplay between economic conditions and systemic graft.
The EACC's 2024 survey reveals a 58% reduction in the national average bribe, from Ksh11,625 in 2023 to Ksh4,878 in 2024, a shift attributed to inflation squeezing disposable incomes, making high-value bribes less feasible for Kenyans.
EACC Chairperson David Oginde noted that the high cost of living, cited by 22% of respondents as a key driver of corruption, paradoxically reduced bribe amounts as citizens resisted paying exorbitant sums.
However, the report flags high-value bribes, with a staggering Ksh243,651 demanded for county jobs, followed by Ksh200,000 for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) positions and Ksh100,000 for national government tenders. Uasin Gishu County led with an average bribe of Ksh25,873, far above the national mean, highlighting regional disparities.
Inflation, which hit 6.7% in 2024 per the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, has reshaped bribery dynamics, as economic hardship limits citizens' ability to pay large kickbacks.
The EACC report notes that 67% of respondents perceive corruption as worsening due to rising living costs, poor service delivery, and systemic graft.
While cash remains the dominant bribe form (99.5%), some respondents reported offering food or drinks, reflecting financial strain. The survey, conducted between November and December 2024, indicates that 72.5% of bribe-payers were dissatisfied with services received, showing the inefficiency of corruption amid economic pressures.
Oginde urged Kenyans to resist bribe demands, emphasizing that collective refusal could dismantle entrenched practices.
The EACC survey identifies police officers as the most bribe-prone, accounting for 29.93% of cases, followed by National Registration Bureau (19.7%) and medical officers (9.53%).
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration topped the list at 48%, with the Ministry of Health at 20%. Services like job applications (Ksh163,260 average bribe) and passport applications (Ksh74,428) remain costly, though inflation has driven down these amounts from 2023 peaks.
The Kenya Wildlife Service stood out with a Ksh200,000 average bribe, commanding 35.73% of the national bribe value. Other agencies, like the National Treasury's Pensions Department (Ksh40,000) and NSSF (Ksh47,129), also featured prominently, reflecting widespread corruption across sectors.
Uasin Gishu, Baringo, and Embu emerged as the most bribery-prone counties, with Uasin Gishu accounting for 11.12% of national bribes. Kwale, Kilifi, and Wajir reported near-universal bribe demands, with a 100% bribery rate in Elgeyo Marakwet and Marsabit.
In contrast, counties like Taita Taveta and Nyeri showed lower bribery prevalence. The EACC noted that 63% of Uasin Gishu residents paid bribes for services like jobs and land documents, exacerbated by the county's economic growth attracting corrupt officials.
A December 2024 arrest of a Uasin Gishu County Executive for bribe demands highlights ongoing enforcement efforts.
The EACC is intensifying investigations, prosecutions, and public education to combat bribery. Oginde called for institutional reforms and stronger accountability, noting that 97.2% of bribery victims never report incidents due to distrust in authorities or fear of retaliation.
The commission's efforts include recovering Ksh104 million in public land in Mombasa and pursuing high-profile cases, like the Ksh550 million KPC procurement scandal.
The EACC's 2024 survey, mandated by the Constitution and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, aims to inform policy reforms, with recommendations for digitising services like Ardhi Sasa to reduce bribe opportunities.
The interplay of inflation and corruption paints a complex picture, with economic pressures reducing bribe amounts but not their prevalence. As Kenya grapples with unemployment (49.1%) and graft (44.6%) as top national issues, the EACC's findings show the need for systemic change.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.