The newspapers of Friday, April 10, highlighted various topics, including a report from an anti-corruption institute that identifies corruption in various counties in Kenya.
Source: UGC
1. Daily Nation
A new report has exposed rampant corruption in government, identifying counties where officials receive the most bribes, corruption in magistrates’ courts, and how public service jobs are being sold to the highest bidders.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) found that the highest average bribes were paid in Kakamega (KSh 79,305), West Pokot (KSh 16,400), Isiolo (KSh 13,912), Vihiga (KSh 12,389), and Garissa (KSh 12,297). In Kakamega, court officials received the largest amount of money.
The National Survey on Gender and Corruption Kenya 2025 reported that magistrates claimed the highest average bribe of KSh 164,367, while getting a government job involved an average bribe of KSh 85,033.
This was followed by obtaining a tender through public procurement (KSh 24,020) and obtaining a passport (KSh 12,514).
The national average of bribes rose to KSh 6,724 in 2025, from KSh 4,878 in 2024.
Other counties with high levels of corruption include Kericho (KSh 11,799), Nandi (KSh 11,664), Bungoma (KSh 11,048), Meru (KSh 11,014), Elgeyo-Marakwet (KSh 10,962), Laikipia (KSh 10,364), Nyeri (KSh 9,390), Nyandarua (KSh 8,687), Samburu (KSh 8,495), Busia (KSh 8,214), and Nakuru (KSh 6,688).
The lowest rates were recorded in Kitui (KSh 2,168), Siaya (KSh 2,155), Nyamira (KSh 1,655), Kilifi (KSh 1,559), and Baringo (KSh 1,314).
EACC Director General, Abdi Mohamud, announced plans to introduce secret integrity investigations and improved monitoring in highly corrupt sectors, with the aim of reducing the level by at least 20 percent within six months.
The report noted that corruption is widespread among police officers, civil registration officers, NTSA staff, land registration officers, and civil registration officers, with the police remaining the most corrupt recipients.
In the past year, 35.5 percent of service seekers admitted to paying bribes to the police, 30 percent bribed civil registration officers, 25.4 percent NTSA officers, 23.3 percent land registration workers, and 21.2 percent people registration officers.
In addition to magistrates, land registration officers (KSh 17,996), county representatives (KSh 13,038), immigration officers (KSh 12,102), and prosecutors (KSh 11,809) were among those demanding the most bribes.
Research participants explained that bribery often ensures quick services, such as paying KSh 1,000 for a death certificate which legally costs KSh 150.
In Nakuru, victims of abuse reported being charged money by health workers to obtain medical reports.
The survey, conducted between May and September 2025 involving 16,858 participants, also examined gender trends.
Men dominated corruption in vulnerable sectors such as NTSA (92.9 percent) and the police (89.8 percent), while women were more likely to offer bribes to obtain important documents.
However, women were more affected by sexual corruption, especially in hospitals and when looking for employment.
Sexual harassment based on bribery affected 3.4 percent of women compared to 0.8 percent of men, while 9.3 percent of women reported being asked for sexual favors directly.
EACC recommends secure and confidential reporting mechanisms through digital and mobile platforms, mandatory electronic payment of fees for high-risk services, and transparent disciplinary procedures to control corruption and sexual harassment.
It also recommends the creation of a task force to investigate judicial corruption in counties like Kakamega.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
