Be the boss when asked for a bribe

What you need to know:

  • You may not get served that day, but the person asking for a bribe may get disciplined, fired, or transferred for asking for a bribe if you challenge them.

Have you ever been asked for a bribe? Have you ever had to pay one to get out of a situation?

Even if you don’t answer yes to these questions, they are common enough events if the numbers circulated by transparency authorities are to be believed.

Corruption is an unwritten agreement between two parties to avoid or enable a dealing with a third party - usually the government or a procuring entity - in which one of the two parties is either an employee or affiliated with the third party.

It is an agreement of convenience in which both parties implicitly agree to keep quiet afterwards.

What compels people to enter into such an agreements? Looking at it from the perspective of the outsider, some reasons may include:

1. You are in the wrong and want to avoid dealing with the legal consequences.

2. You want a favour, and can’t wait for due process or follow the rules.

3. Large government or private sector procurement or infrastructure deals where everyone involved wants to pocket a piece of the substantial discounts that are included.

4. You’re dealing with an inefficient third party and urgently want to get served.

In the case of the fourth reason, where you are asked for a bribe to get what is your right, you have not entered into an agreement.

POWER TO SAY NO

In this case, you have the power to say no. The government person currying a favour from you is a beggar, and you have power over him or her.

Like the opening scene of The Godfather Part II, when presented with such a demand and it is not for a life-and-death matter, you are in an actual position of power, and can refuse the demand.

You can also escalate the matter, protest loudly, or put a note in those tiny anti-corruption or suggestions complaint boxes that are in every office, or write to a newspaper or website.

You will stain the person asking for a bribe that organization, or get them in trouble.

In this scenario, the person asking you for a bribe has much more to lose than you. You may not get served that day, but the person asking for a bribe may get disciplined, fired, or transferred for asking for a bribe if you challenge them.

In this case, you are the boss, and you even have the power, like Michael Corleone in Godfather Part II, to ask for a better, or even free service, from the person asking for a bribe.

You may also get support from the public, like the matatu or lorry driver who, frustrated with his daily burdensome demands, turns on the person demanding a bribe, and gets support from members of the public.

Twitter: @bankelele