NAIROBI, Kenya- A staggering new survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed that job seekers in Kenya are being asked to pay an average of Sh243,651 to secure employment at the county level—making it the most expensive bribe category in the country.
This alarming figure emerges from the National Ethics and Corruption Survey 2024, which highlights the growing desperation among job seekers amid a worsening unemployment crisis.
According to the report, 49.1% of respondents ranked unemployment as the most critical issue in Kenya, ahead of corruption (44.6%), poverty (32.3%), and the high cost of living (29.9%).
“The largest share of the national bribe—30.99%—was paid while seeking employment from county executives,” the report reads.
NATIONAL ETHICS AND CORRUPTION SURVEY 2024 LIVE FROM INTEGRITY CENTRE x.com/i/broadcasts/1…
Other high-value bribes included Sh100,000 for national government tenders and Sh72,665 for teacher placements under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
This surge in job-related bribery underscores a deeper systemic problem. The EACC recommends that “the Head of Public Service should institute measures that enhance transparency and accountability in employment of public officers.”
Shockingly, even with such high costs, most Kenyans (97.2%) who experienced bribery did not report the cases, citing fear of retaliation or a lack of faith in existing systems.
Only 2.8% filed formal complaints.
Uasin-Gishu emerged as the county where the highest average bribe (KES 25,873) was paid, followed by Baringo (KES 16,156) and Embu (KES 12,878).
The findings point to a system where only those who can afford to bribe stand a chance at gainful employment.
As one of the survey’s impact indicators notes, “Each time a person paid a bribe for a service from the county executive, they were twice more likely to receive it than if they did not.”
The EACC is now calling for fast-tracking of the Whistleblower’s Bill, 2021, to encourage more reporting and curb bribery in recruitment processes. It also recommends robust policies in public institutions to ensure merit-based hiring.
