This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
Published on November 20, 2019, a report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed a disturbing trend in corruption cases in the public service. According to the report, corruption cases increased by 11% between December 2017 and December 2018.
The office of the Registrar of Persons has been identified as the institution where bribery is most rampant, with corruption cases increasing by 19.9% during the same period. The institution has been plagued by corruption claims involving cartels and brokers who collude during the issuance of birth certificates.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak noted that Kenyans are often forced to pay bribes while seeking birth certificates, registering or renewing national identification cards, or applying for jobs. Despite a decrease in the average amount of money public officers ask as a bribe, from Sh5,058 in 2017 to Sh3,833 in 2018, more public officers are now demanding bribes before offering government services.
Speaking on the report, EACC Chairman Eliud Wabukala emphasized the need for public officers implicated in corruption allegations to step aside. The report is set to dent public confidence in the war against corruption, highlighting the need for both national and county governments to implement measures to address corruption.
According to the report, 75.3% of the country's population is desperately seeking government services, with most people paying bribes to hasten the various processes of service delivery. The health department and police service tied with the Registrar of Persons in terms of corruption cases, with the village administrative units also reporting a significant increase in corruption cases.
