EACC Report Reveals Kenyan Institutions That Paid The Most Bribes
The report shows that in 2024, 30.5% of Kenyans seeking public services were asked for a bribe, up from 25% in the 2023 findings.
Marvin Chege 
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was revealed to have paid the largest amount of bribes, according to a new report released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
According to the National Ethics and Corruption Survey 2024 released on Tuesday, August 5, KWS paid Ksh200,000 in bribes, more than any other institution in the whole country.
"On average, institutions where respondents paid the largest amount of bribes were the Kenya Wildlife
Service (KES 200,000), followed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) (KES 47,129) and the National
Treasury (Pensions Department) (KES 40,000)," the report reads in part.
A photo of KWS officers. /KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE
Following this top three was the Judiciary (Courts) paying Ksh30,000 in bribes, the County Physical Planning and Development Dept/Unit (land survey & mapping; housing; etc.) paying Ksh23,279 in bribes and the Constituency Development Fund Office (CDF) paying Ksh20,045.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) paid Ksh16,771 in bribes. Rounding off the top 10 were Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development (Ksh14,333), Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs (Ksh13,000) and County Public Service Board (CPSB) (Ksh10,020).
The report also revealed that job seekers in Kenya are reportedly paying an average bribe of Ksh243,651 to land jobs in county governments.
EACC Chair Bishop David Oginde, speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi alongside other senior officials, noted that the data highlights how entrenched bribery has become in the public service recruitment process, particularly within county administrations.
The report shows that in 2024, 30.5% of Kenyans seeking public services were asked for a bribe, up from 25% in the 2023 findings.
Among all services, county government jobs topped the list as the most costly to obtain through bribery, with the average amount standing at Ksh243,651. “County employment remained the most affected, followed by national government tenders and Teachers Service Commission placements,” the report stated.
Individuals pursuing government tenders paid an average bribe of Ksh100,000, while applicants for teaching positions under the Teachers Service Commission shelled out about Ksh72,665.
The survey identified police officers, personnel from the National Registration Bureau, and healthcare workers in public hospitals as the most frequently mentioned when it came to bribery.
A significant number of Kenyans admitted to giving bribes either to speed up services or because it was the only way to get assistance. Some were directly asked to pay, while others did so to avoid lengthy delays.
However, even after paying, the majority reported disappointment with the outcome—72.5% of those who gave bribes said they were unhappy with the service they received.
EACC CEO, Abdi Mohamud, gestures during a past media presser. /EACC
