NAIROBI, Kenya — The integrity of Kenya’s public service recruitment has once again come under scrutiny after senior government official Moses Kuria raised concern over alleged bribery in the latest Kenya Prisons Service intake.
In a statement posted on X, Kuria, a Senior Advisor on Economic Affairs at State House, claimed that some successful applicants in the recent prisons recruitment drive paid bribes of up to KSh500,000 to secure positions as wardens.
“I am getting disturbing reports that the candidates who were recruited for the Kenya Prison Wardens jobs paid bribes of KSh500K each. This is not good. It’s immoral. It’s not worth it,” Kuria posted.
I am getting disturbing reports the candidates who were recruited for the Kenya Prison Wardens jobs paid a bribe of Ksh 500K each. This is not good. It’s immoral. It’s not worth it
His comments have stirred public outrage, adding fuel to longstanding concerns about corruption in public hiring, especially within the country’s security agencies.
On April 30, the Kenya Prisons Service conducted a nationwide recruitment exercise for Cadet Officers, Technicians, Artisans, and Prison Constables, targeting qualified young men and women aged between 18 and 30.
But what was meant to be a transparent exercise to bolster Kenya’s correctional services has instead triggered a storm of allegations.
Distressed families and rejected applicants have come forward with stories of deception and financial ruin.
Kuria condemned the reported cases and warned that those behind the scam would face dire consequences.
But so far, the Kenya Prisons Service has not responded publicly to the allegations.
This is not the first time Kenyans have been asked to pay for government jobs — a trend that has plagued recruitment in the police service, military, and other public sectors.
Authorities had previously pledged reforms, including digitizing the recruitment process, to cut out middlemen and ensure merit-based hiring.
In 2023, the Ministry of Interior vowed to clamp down on recruitment fraud after similar reports emerged during police intakes.
Despite those assurances, many Kenyans say the system remains vulnerable to manipulation.
