EACC lists Ministry of Interior, Treasury, Health and Lands among hotbeds of corruption
A new report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has flagged several ministries as the most prone to corruption and unethical practices in Kenya.
The National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) 2024 reveals that the Ministries of Interior and National Administration (0.38%), Health (0.41%), Lands (1.78%), and the National Treasury (7.15%) are the most likely places where Kenyans encounter bribery, favouritism, abuse of office, and other forms of corruption.
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The survey, which collected views from 5,960 respondents across all 47 counties, aimed to establish the current state of corruption and unethical conduct in the country. It compared trends from previous years and measured public awareness, access to anti-corruption services, and the perceived effectiveness of current anti-corruption efforts.
According to the findings, government departments such as the Kenya Police, Traffic Police, Directorate of Immigration, Civil Registration, and the State Department for Internal Security are among the most corruption-prone. Professionally, police officers, KRA officers, chiefs, lawyers, and county revenue officers were cited most frequently concerning unethical conduct.
Bribery remains a common tool to access services, especially in areas such as acquiring tenders, securing employment in public offices, resolving land disputes, and getting medical attention in county health facilities.
Most citizens noted that bribes are often demanded as the only way to get services, especially in county governments, with curative health, public works, and employment boards among the most affected.
Corruption remains a top concern for citizens
The survey ranked unemployment as the most critical issue facing the country today, followed closely by corruption, poverty, high cost of living, and poor infrastructure. Dissatisfaction with government service delivery remains high.
Despite the bleak picture, the survey notes that a majority of respondents were aware of EACC and its mandate. Many also identified public education, job creation, simplified corruption reporting channels, and stakeholder collaboration as the most effective ways to fight corruption. In contrast, formal tools such as IFMIS and legal frameworks were viewed as less effective.
While awareness of EACC and its anti-corruption mandate remains high, the survey paints a worrying picture of persistent unethical behaviour across both national and county governments. With many citizens expressing doubt about the effectiveness of formal systems.
