Uasin Gishu, Baringo and Embu ranked among Kenya’s most corrupt counties - report

Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Embu and Homa Bay counties have been ranked among Kenya’s most corrupt counties, where residents pay the highest amounts in bribes to access public services, according to the 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) released on Tuesday by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The report, which focused on the trends, magnitude, prevalence and impact of corruption across national and county governments, found that Uasin Gishu County recorded the highest average bribe at Sh25,873, followed by Baringo (Sh16,156), Embu (Sh12,878), Homa Bay (Sh12,381) and Bomet (Sh11,650).

Other counties where significant bribes were paid include Kakamega (Sh10,013), Tana River (Sh9,582), Kiambu (Sh7,982), Nyamira (Sh7,748) and Wajir (Sh7,275).

In terms of the share of national bribes paid, Uasin Gishu accounted for the highest proportion at 11.12 per cent, followed by Baringo (6.94 per cent), Embu (5.54 per cent), Homa Bay (5.32 per cent) and Bomet (5.01 per cent).

The EACC also listed counties where bribery was most prevalent, with all respondents confirming they had to pay to receive services, including Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit, and Wajir, where the bribery incidence stood at 100 per cent.

“The average size of a bribe in the country decreased from Sh11,625 in 2023 to Sh4,878 in 2024,” the report notes, though the proportion of respondents who were asked to pay a bribe rose from 17.7 per cent in 2023 to 25.4 per cent in 2024.

Most bribery-prone services included county land survey and housing services, inspectorate services, seeking payment from county executives, public works (especially water and sanitation), health services and county licenses. Institutions like the Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company and the County Public Service Boards were highlighted as particularly corrupt.

On average, the highest bribes were paid while seeking employment from county executives at Sh243,651, followed by tenders from the national government (Sh100,000) and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) placements (Sh72,665).

The most corrupt national institutions in terms of bribe amounts were the Kenya Wildlife Service (Sh200,000), the National Social Security Fund (Sh47,129) and the National Treasury’s Pensions Department (Sh40,000).

According to the report, most of the bribes were paid because it was demanded (43.3 per cent), while 23.3 per cent said it was the only way to access services, and 18 per cent paid to avoid delays. However, 97.2 per cent of those who encountered bribery did not report it, citing fear or lack of trust in institutions.

The least bribery-prone counties were listed as Nakuru, Makueni, Kajiado, Narok, Siaya, Kisumu, Trans Nzoia, Nyeri, Bungoma, Lamu and Nyandarua.

According to the survey, EACC, the Auditor General’s Office, and civil society were rated as having relatively high public trust in the fight against corruption.

Religious organisations (39.7 per cent), private broadcasting stations (38.8 per cent), public broadcasters (36.2 per cent), and social media platforms (32.4 per cent) were also recognised for raising awareness on corruption. In contrast, Governors (45.1 per cent) and Members of the County Assembly (46.6 per cent) were rated poorly for their role in anti-corruption efforts.

In terms of media and communication, radio (73.6 per cent) remained the leading source of information on corruption, followed by television (64.6 per cent) and social media (32.6 per cent). Facebook was the most preferred platform for accessing anti-corruption content, followed by WhatsApp, X, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.

EACC has now recommended targeted institutional reforms and legal safeguards to curb corruption across the country. Among the proposed measures is the urgent need for system audits in corruption-prone public offices, including the TSC, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), National Land Commission (NLC), the National Treasury’s Pensions Department, and the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF).

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Counties flagged for high bribery prevalence, such as Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Kakamega, Tana River, Wajir, Meru, Marsabit, and Murang’a, have also been earmarked for similar examinations.

To protect individuals who expose corrupt dealings, EACC has called for the fast-tracking of the Whistleblower Protection Bill, 2021, which remains pending in Parliament.

The Commission has also called for enhanced anti-corruption training in schools and public institutions, transparent recruitment practices in government agencies, and greater public engagement in monitoring service delivery. It further wants a speak-up culture fostered in both public and private sectors to encourage the reporting of unethical conduct without fear of victimisation.

According to the Commission, these measures are key to promoting integrity, rebuilding public trust and shielding citizens from entrenched bribery and abuse of office.

The 2024 survey covered 5,960 households across all 47 counties, using a blend of quantitative and qualitative methods, including face-to-face interviews and literature review. Data was collected between November 6 and December 1, 2024.

EACC indicated that public dissatisfaction with the integrity, transparency and accountability in county service delivery remains high, with over 60 per cent of respondents expressing discontent.