Moses Kuria says candidates paid up to Ksh500K in bribes to secure Kenya Prisons jobs
By William Muthama, June 6, 2025Senior Economic Advisor at State House, Moses Kuria, has raised concerns about the integrity of the recent Kenya Prisons Service recruitment, suggesting that some candidates may have been required to pay large sums of money to secure positions.
The nationwide exercise, held on April 30, aimed to recruit Cadet Officers, Technicians, Artisans, and Prison Constables. It attracted thousands of young applicants aged between 18 and 30, eager for a chance to serve in the country’s correctional services.
Kuria speaks out
In a post shared on his X account on Thursday, June 5, Kuria stated that he had received what he described as disturbing reports regarding the process.
“I am getting disturbing reports that the candidates who were recruited for the Kenya Prison Wardens jobs paid bribes of Ksh500K each,” he wrote. “This is not good. It’s immoral. It’s not worth it.”
Kuria went on to condemn the alleged bribery, warning that such practices were deeply unethical and harmful to the public service.
Reactions from the public
Kuria’s post prompted a wave of reactions from Kenyans online, with many echoing his concern. Several users described similar frustrations, stating that some families were asked to part with significant amounts of money but still did not secure jobs for their children.
Although unverified, such accounts reflect growing discontent over perceived corruption in government hiring processes.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about bribery in recruitment drives. Kuria himself alluded to this in his remarks, questioning the moral compass of those involved.
Call for accountability
“We will burn in hell. Selling prison warder jobs? APANA !!!” Kuria added in a strongly worded follow-up post, calling for immediate accountability from those responsible.
He urged the relevant authorities to act, stating that the credibility of public institutions was at stake if such practices were allowed to continue unchecked.
As of Friday morning, the Kenya Prisons Service had not issued an official statement in response to the issues raised. The Ministry of Interior has in the past promised to streamline recruitment through digital platforms to curb corruption.