Uasin Gishu County recorded the highest average bribe paid in Kenya in 2024, according to the latest National Ethics and Corruption Survey released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The report reveals that residents in Uasin Gishu paid an average of Ksh 25,873 per bribe – the highest across all 47 counties.
Baringo County followed with an average bribe of Ksh 16,156, while Embu came in third at Ksh 12,878. Other counties with significant bribe averages included Homa Bay (Ksh 12,381), Bomet (Ksh 11,650), and Kakamega (Ksh 10,013). The lowest among the top ten was Wajir County, where the average bribe stood at Ksh 7,275.
The findings come from the EACC’s 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey, which also reports a significant drop in the national average bribe amount to Ksh 4,878, down from Ksh 11,625 in 2023 a 58% decrease. However, the reduction in bribe size coincides with a worrying trend: more Kenyans are being asked for bribes than before.
According to the report, 25.4% of Kenyans reported being asked to pay a bribe in 2024, up from 17.7% the previous year. The most common reasons for paying bribes included: demands by officials (43.3%), lack of alternative options to access services (23.3%), and the need to avoid delays (18%). Only 2.8% of those who paid bribes reported the incidents, reflecting persistent fears of retaliation and lack of faith in the reporting system.
EACC further identified high-value bribery hotspots in government services such as employment within county governments (where bribes averaged Ksh 243,651), national tenders (Ksh 100,000), and Teachers Service Commission recruitment (Ksh 72,665). Institutions like the Kenya Wildlife Service, National Treasury – Pensions Department, and the National Social Security Fund were flagged for receiving high average bribe amounts.
The Commission is calling for urgent reforms, including fast-tracking the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2021 and implementing system audits in corruption-prone counties such as Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Kakamega, and Tana River.
While the declining bribe amounts may suggest improvements in enforcement or economic hardship limiting payments, EACC warns that the increasing frequency of bribery solicitation and the culture of silence among citizens undermine efforts to combat corruption.
The 2024 survey underscores the urgent need for structural reforms, public accountability, and civic education to dismantle entrenched bribery networks and promote transparent service delivery in both county and national governments.
