The counties of Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit, Embu, Homa Bay, Bomet, Kakamega, Tana River, Kiambu, Meru, Nyamira and Wajir are among the most corrupt in the country.
If you are seeking services in any of these counties, then you are likely to be asked for bribes in order to be attended to.
This is according to a new survey which was released on Tuesday by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on corruption and bribery trends in the country.
Others counties that the survey listed among the most corrupt are Kwale, Kilifi, Mandera, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Murang'a, Samburu and Vihiga.
According to the National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) 2024, Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit and Wajir Counties lead devolved units where one is likely to be asked for a bribe.
“Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit and Wajir were counties where bribery was most prevalent, with all (100 per cent) respondents who sought services in the devolved units paying a bribe,” the report reads.
The report also indicates that payment of bribe had the highest impact in Kakamega, Baringo and Meru Counties.
Each time a person paid a bribe in these three counties, they were 1.37 times and 1.07 times more likely to receive the service respectively than if they did not pay the bribe.
According to the survey, the most bribery-prone counties are Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Embu, Homa Bay, Bomet, Kakamega, Tana River, Kiambu, Nyamira and Wajir.
“On average, counties where respondents paid the largest amount of bribes were Uasin Gishu (Sh25,873), followed by Baringo (Sh16,156), Embu (Sh12,878), Homa Bay (Sh12,381), Bomet (Sh11,650), Kakamega (Sh10,013), Tana River (Sh9,582), Kiambu (Sh7,982), Nyamira (Sh7,748 and Wajir (Sh7,275),” the report says.
The largest share of national bribe was paid in Uasin Gishu (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 report says each time a service is sought in Kwale, Kilifi and Wajir counties one is likely to be asked for a bribe 1.09times,1.03 times and 1.02times respectively.
In Mandera, Marsabit,Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Murang'a, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet,Vihiga, Homa Bay and Nyamira counties one is likely to be asked for a bribe 1.00times.
The same report also listed public services which are most prone to bribery, among them county land survey and housing services, County inspectorate services, seeking payment from county executives, county public works and services (water and sanitation and storm water management systems) seeking county health services and county licenses.
The price of corruption in Kenya.
Photo credit: Nation Media Group
For instance, bribery in public institutions is more evident in Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company. The report also indicates that the County Public Service Boards are also prone to bribery.
On average, respondents said they paid the largest amount of bribes while seeking employment from county executives, parting with an average bribe of Sh243,651.
On the flipside, counties where one is least likely to be asked to pay a bribe for services include Nakuru, Makueni, Kajiado, Narok, Siaya, Kisumu, Trans Nzoia, Nyeri, Bungoma, Lamu and Nyandarua.
Most of the respondents (43 per cent) paid a bribe because it was demanded, followed by 23.3 per cent who indicated it was the only way to access a service and 18 per cent who paid to avoid delays in service delivery.
However, the report indicated that a majority of the respondents (92 per cent) who experienced bribery incidents did not complain or report to any authority or person with only 2.8 per cent reporting the same.
The price of corruption in Kenya.
Photo credit: Nation Media Group
EACC notes that the report focused on trends, magnitude, likelihood, prevalence, and impact of corruption and unethical conduct in the country to develop the rankings.
The NECS 2024 had a target sample of 6,000 households. However, a total of 5,960 households were interviewed with respondents distributed across all 47 counties.
Data collection was preceded by a questionnaire design and two days of training held between November 4 and 5, 2024.
Data collection was conducted from November 6, 2024 to December 1, 2024. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used.
Transparency and accountability
Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) were conducted with household heads with a literature review providing critical insights into topical issues on anti-corruption.
Data collection involved face-to-face interviews, that permitted the interviewers to probe and clarify responses, resulting in a higher response rate.
The report sought to establish county governments departments and services, national government ministries, departments and agencies that are perceived to be most prone to unethical conduct and corruption in the country.
The survey also revealed that most of the respondents had strong confidence in the Office of the Auditor General in the fight against unethical conduct and corruption in the counties and the national government.
Religious organisations (39.7per cent), private broadcasting stations (38.8 per cent), public broadcasting stations (36.2 per cent), social media platforms (32.4 per cent) civil society groups (30.5 per cent), private sector (24.9 per cent) and EACC (24.3per cent) had confidence in the fight against unethical conduct and corruption.
Respondents further indicated that there was lack of confidence in Members of County Assembly (46.6 per cent), Governors (45.1per cent) in the fight against corruption.
The Report indicated that more than 60 per cent of the respondents were dissatisfied with integrity, transparency and accountability in public service delivery in counties.
