Kenya Police tops corruption list
Tuesday March 27 2018
Anti-riot policemen arrest a student of University of Nairobi after the protests against the detention of an opposition legislator in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 28, 2017. PHOTO | COURTESY
Kenya Police has once again topped the list of most corrupt government departments in a survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The study conducted in 2016 indicates that most bribes were paid at police stations, county health departments, chiefs' offices, Office of the Registrar of Persons and county commissioners' offices in that order.
The average bribe given out is now $70 (Ksh7,081), an increase from $56 (Ksh5,648) recorded in the previous year.
Among the counties, Murang’a in central Kenya topped the list of most corrupt, followed by Trans-Nzoia in the west, Mandera, Kirinyaga, Marsabit, Tharaka Nithi and Meru.
Meru County was also singled out because its officials were most notorious for demanding bribes.
Among government ministries, Interior and Coordination of National Government was identified as the most prone to graft.
The report was released by EACC chairman Eliud Wabukala.
Health, Devolution and Education ministries, in that order, were also top on the corruption list.
“The overall objective of the survey is to generate data that will feed the anti-corruption strategy in the country,” Mr Wabukala said.
He added: “The commission has so far recovered assets worth $66.5 million (Sh6.7bn) and we are looking to return them to the rightful owners.”