UASIN GISHU TOPS IN CORRUPTION FOLLOWED BY BARINGO

A new report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed that Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Embu and Homabay respectively are among the leading counties in terms of corruption.

The 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey showed that Uasin Gishu County tops the list, with residents paying an average of Sh25,873 in bribes — the highest recorded nationally. Baringo follows with an average of Sh16,156, while Embu, Homa Bay, and Bomet reported bribes averaging Sh12,878, Sh12,381, and Sh11,650 respectively.

Other counties that recorded significant bribe amounts include Kakamega (Sh10,013), Tana River (Sh9,582), Kiambu (Sh7,982), Nyamira (Sh7,748), and Wajir (Sh7,275).

When it comes to the overall share of bribes paid in the country, Uasin Gishu alone accounted for 11.12% of the total, followed by Baringo at 6.94%, Embu at 5.54%, Homa Bay at 5.32%, and Bomet at 5.01%.

The report also flagged counties with the highest bribery prevalence, where every respondent admitted to having paid a bribe to get public services. These include Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit, and Wajir, which all recorded a shocking 100% bribery incidence.

While there was a notable drop in the average national bribe — from Sh11,625 in 2023 to Sh4,878 in 2024 — the proportion of Kenyans asked to pay a bribe increased sharply from 17.7% to 25.4% over the same period.

The survey found that services most prone to bribery included county land offices, housing and planning departments, enforcement services, water and sanitation, health facilities, and business licensing. Some institutions were repeatedly named, including the Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company and County Public Service Boards.

The most expensive bribes were linked to securing county jobs, where applicants paid an average of Sh243,651. Bidding for national government tenders came second at Sh100,000, while TSC job placements saw average bribes of Sh72,665.

On the national front, the Kenya Wildlife Service topped the list of institutions with the highest reported bribes at Sh200,000, followed by the National Social Security Fund (Sh47,129) and the National Treasury’s Pensions Department (Sh40,000).

When asked why they paid bribes, 43.3% of respondents said they were directly asked for money, 23.3% believed it was the only way to get served, and 18% paid to avoid delays. However, 97.2% of bribery cases went unreported, mainly due to fear of consequences or lack of trust in reporting mechanisms.

Meanwhile, counties like Nakuru, Makueni, Kajiado, Narok, Siaya, Kisumu, Trans Nzoia, Nyeri, Bungoma, Lamu, and Nyandarua emerged as least affected by bribery, pointing to stronger public service systems or greater accountability.

Despite the grim picture, the report notes that institutions such as the EACC, the Auditor General’s Office, and civil society organizations still enjoy a relatively high level of public trust in tackling corruption.