Interior, health ministries most corrupt, EACC survey shows

Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Major-General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Police department perceived to be the most corrupt among all departments in the government.
  • The survey revealed that Kenyans pay an average of Sh4, 430 to report a crime or record a statement with the police and Sh3, 725 to bail out an arrested individual.
  • Dr Cleopa Mailu’s Health ministry ranked second most corrupt ministry.

Cabinet Secretary Major-General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery’s Interior and Coordination of National Government Ministry is perceived to be the most corrupt, a survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) shows.

The survey also showed that perceptions about levels of corruption among Kenyans nationally was at 74 per cent which has increased from 67.7 per cent recorded in a similar survey in 2012.

Another 50.4 per cent said corruption had increased compared to a year ago.

The ministry whose Principal Secretaries are Mr Karanja Kibicho and Ms Josephta Mukobe leads in corruption perception at 40.3 per cent with the police department perceived to be the most corrupt among all departments in the government.

This was however an improvement from a score of 60 per cent in 2012 when the ministry was referred to as the Ministry of Internal Security.

The Ministry spokesman Mr Mwenda Njoka said the they would not comment on the report as they were yet to see it.

The poll ranked the Kenya Police Service which falls under Mr Nkaissery’s Ministry as the most corrupt department, at 32.9 per cent, which is however an improvement from 48 per cent in a similar survey conducted in 2012.

The Traffic Police Department whose officers have been accused of receiving bribes from road users came second at 18.8 per cent (18.7 in 2012), while chiefs’ offices which is the first call for Kenyans when they require crucial government documents like identity cards, burial permits, and recommendation letters among other were ranked at number three as the most corrupt, at 6.2 per cent.

However, this is an improvement compared with 2012, when the corruption level at chiefs’ offices was at 10.2 per cent said Ms  Nancy Namenge, the EACC Deputy Director of Research and Transformation while unveiling the report.

The survey revealed that Kenyans pay an average of Sh4, 430 to report a crime or record a statement with the police and Sh3, 725 to bail out an arrested individual.

RUNNERS UP

Dr Cleopa Mailu’s Health ministry ranked second at 14.3 per cent with the same survey revealing that Kenyans are bribing to access health services in both country and national government hospitals.

Public hospitals managed by the government were ranked number five as being among the departments and agencies most prone to corruption with an index of 4.1 per cent.

Dr Mailu while contacted to comment on the report said he was aware of the perception that his ministry could be corrupt but he said he has set out on a “fact finding mission” of any corruption incidences within the health system — at the national and county levels — and if identified, it will be made known to the public.

“I haven’t seen the report by the EACC and as such, I cannot vouch for it, neither can I deny their findings. We will find out facilities or if it is the Ministry of Health Headquarters, where the public face extortion in seeking health services,” he said.

Health which has been devolved topped among the departments most perceived to be corrupt in counties with a score of 29 per cent.

The survey released yesterday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) revealed that Kenyans are paying an average of Sh1, 866 as bribe to access services in hospitals.

Among the services which attracted bribes in most in the ministry whose PS is Dr Nicholas Muraguri was seeking medical services at 20.7 per cent.

Ranking third among the most corrupt government ministries was the Land, Housing & Urban Development docket headed by Prof Jacob Kaimenyi with an 11 per cent score.

The EACC poll conducted from August 23 to October 23 last year in 46 counties except Mandera revealed that the registrar of land ranked among the top 10 places at 1.1 per cent where a bribe was paid.

In 2012, the department had a score of 8.8 per cent.