Kenyans fork out an average of Ksh163,260 in bribes to secure employment, the National Ethics and Corruption Survey has revealed.
The survey released on Wednesday by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission further showed that individuals looking to secure passports readily part with Ksh74,428 while those seeking a police abstract pay an average of Ksh20,300.
Obtaining a tender, solving land conflicts, power connection or bill payment, bailing of arrested individuals, seeking to transfer a pupil from one school to another, seeking a business permit, and seeking police security rounded off the top ten services that attracted the highest amount of bribes.
The report, which surveyed a total of 5,100 households across the country, also indicated that workers at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) demanded the highest amount of bribes at Ksh81,801 followed by those at the Judiciary at Ksh49,611.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) followed at Ksh40,000 then County Government Offices (Ksh26,223), Kenya Power and Lighting Company (Ksh23,738), County Public Service Boards (Ksh17,000), Immigration Department (Ksh12,570) and Kenya Revenue Authority (Ksh11,430).
"The national average bribe increased from KES 6,865 in 2022 to stand at KES 11,625 in 2023," the report read in part.
"The average size of bribe indicator is a measure of the average payment made by respondents who reported paying a bribe for a service, in an institution or in a county."
The report further indicated that West Pokot County attracted the largest amount of bribes at Ksh56,695 followed by Nairobi (Ksh37,768), Murang'a (18,378), Kisii (Ksh16,810), Uasin Gishu (Ksh10,136) and Kitui (Ksh9,849)
"The largest share of national bribe was paid to application for a passport (35.8%); seeking employment (22.1%); seeking a police abstract (11.5%) and bailing of arrested individuals (10.3%)," added the report.
"Busia, Baringo, Nairobi, Nakuru and Machakos Counties are the five most bribery-prone counties. Each time a service is sought in Busia County one is likely to be asked for a bribe 2.02 times."
Each time a service is sought in Baringo, Nairobi, Nakuru and Machakos counties one is likely to be asked for a bribe 1.34 times, 1.12 times, 1.11 times and 1.09 times, respectively.
In comparison, Kilifi County's size of bribes paid was the lowest at Ksh162, followed by Tana River (Ksh505) and Kakamega (Ksh538).
Kenya has for years struggled with bribery and corruption menace with former President Uhuru Kenyatta estimating that the country loses Ksh2 billion per day through corruption.
