Kisii counties top new bribery index

Two counties of the larger Gusii region recorded the highest cases of corruption in Kenya for the past year, a survey shows.

The survey by the national anti-corruption agency conducted in the 2010/2011 financial year revealed that Kisii County recorded the highest cases of bribery demands (75.89 per cent) followed by the neighbouring Nyamira (72.3 per cent), Narok (71.74) and Mandera at 70 per cent.

The National Anti-Corruption Survey documents the nature, extent and magnitude of graft in the country including country level bribe demands and payments.

Keiyo Marakwet was the county with the least bribery demands (7.69 per cent) followed by Baringo (16.22), Lamu (18,180 and Laikipia (20 per cent).

“The survey calls to attention the public, private and civil society players on the need for new policies and strategies to deal with the scourge of corruption,” said Mr Vincent Okong’o of the Kenya Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Also on the list of the top ten counties with highest cases of bribery are Homa Bay, Garissa, Migori, Thika, Kericho and Kitui in that order.

Bribery rising

The survey conducted across the country also revealed that the levels of bribery continue to increase with the regular police and public hospitals ranked as the worst offenders.

The other top offenders are local authorities, traffic police, lands offices, judiciary, government schools and the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Greed was cited as the leading cause of corruption followed by poverty, poor terms and conditions of work, unemployment, delay in service delivery and illiteracy.

The ministries of Internal Security, Medical Services, Lands, Education, Local Government and Immigration are perceived as the most corrupt in that order.

The forms of corruption range from favouritism, abuse of office, misuse of public resources, such as the Constituency Development Fund and false accusations.

Others are tax evasion and illegal acquisition of property.

The average bribe was Sh6,206 compared with Sh3,664 the previous financial year. The average bribe was higher in urban areas. On gender, men paid almost double the average bribe by women.

The study revealed that male civil servants asked for more bribes than their female colleagues. It was found that most people were unwilling to report cases of corruption because they felt that no action would be taken.

Cash for votes

As the country prepares for the next General Election, another study by the Jesuit Hakimani Centre indicated that a considerable number of Kenyans would demand bribes before voting.

The study conducted between November and December 2011 revealed that Eastern region hosts the highest percentage of voters (35.43) who will demand cash to vote, majority of them from Meru County.