Mombasa residents pay highest bribes in Kenya- report

A report by Auditor-General Auditor-General Edward Ouko has shown that Mombasa residents pay higher bribes for services than residents in other counties. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• The report states that some of the stakeholders indicate that poor progress in the fight against corruption is as a result of poor investigations.
• The report also listed five counties where residents pay the least amount of money to access public service..

By ANGELA OKETCH
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Residents of Mombasa, Embu and Isiolo part with the highest amount of bribes to access public services, an audit report has shown.

In Mombasa, according to the report, residents pay Sh11,611 as bribe for services.

In Embu and Isiolo, residents pay bribes of Sh11, 500 and Sh10, 000 respectively.

According to the report compiled by a team led by Auditor-General Edward Ouko, the findings attest to fading public confidence in the fight against corruption.

The report states that some of the stakeholders indicate that poor progress in the fight against corruption is as a result of poor investigations.

The report also states corruption at the county level is on the increase, as shown in the national survey, and there is no sufficient evidence that the government has done enough to prosecute and ensure conviction of those involved.

The study was commissioned to assess how major corruption scandals have led to heavy losses of public resources.

The report also listed five counties where residents pay the least amount of money to access public service.

They are Kisumu (Sh1,867), Kericho (Sh1,586), Nyamira (Sh1,580), West Pokot (Sh1,313) and Taita-Taveta (Sh1,300).

“On average, service seekers paid the largest amount of bribe amounting to Sh11,611 in Mombasa County to access public services.

The sectors with rampant corruption in public services include recruitment at 29.9 per cent, arbitrary arrest at 27.4 per cent, procurement procedures at 25 per cent and letters/payment of land rates at 8. 9 per cent.

An analysis of bribery by public services/processes reveals that on average, service seekers paid the largest bribes, amounting to Sh30,000, to seek funding from either the Constituency Development Fund, county governments, the Ministry of Agriculture, or youth funds.

The other two leading services where large bribes are paid are electricity connection and tax remittance, with an average bribe size of Sh18,333 and Sh16,909, respectively.

“Public officers are often cited in breach of these values, but there are no sanctions for their behaviour," says the report.