NAIROBI, Kenya — Police officers remain the most consistent source of bribery demands across Kenya, featuring prominently across all demographic groups in a new report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The survey reveals that police rank either first or second in bribery prevalence across singles, married, separated, and polygamous respondents—underscoring persistent concerns over integrity within law enforcement.
Among single Kenyans, 43.9 P.c reported paying bribes to police officers, while the figure stood at 37.7 P.c among married respondents. In polygamous households, 41.3 P.c reported bribery involving police, while 30.2 P.c of separated individuals reported similar experiences.
Even among divorced respondents, police remained among the top three institutions implicated, at 20 P.c.
The findings highlight systemic challenges within policing, particularly in routine interactions such as traffic enforcement, compliance checks, and public order management.
Experts warn that entrenched corruption within law enforcement undermines public trust and weakens the rule of law.
“Police are the face of the state for most citizens. When corruption is normalised at that level, it erodes confidence in the entire justice system,” a governance analyst said.
The issue also raises constitutional concerns, as Article 244 of the Constitution requires the National Police Service to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and discipline.
The EACC report suggests that despite ongoing reforms, gaps in oversight, accountability, and enforcement continue to enable corrupt practices.
Conducted in partnership with Transparency International Kenya and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of citizen experiences across all 47 counties.
