Police, KRA and chiefs top list of most corrupt public officials
By Paulette Mboga, August 5, 2025Kenya’s fight against corruption continues to face major setbacks, with the latest National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) 2024 revealing that professionals are among the leading corrupt officials.
The report listed police (27.6 %), KRA officials (17.3%), chiefs (16.2%), county inspectorate officers (14.6%), county revenue officers (13.4%), lawyers (14.1%), and land surveyors (13.3%) are the professional groups most involved in unethical conduct.
The survey, which covered 5,960 household respondents across all 47 counties, measured both personal experiences and perceptions of corruption. It found that giving and receiving of bribes, favouritism, abuse of office, tribalism, nepotism, and embezzlement of public funds remain the most common forms of corruption in the country.
“The Survey established that police officers, KRA officers, chiefs, county inspectorate officers, lawyers, county revenue officers and land surveyors were reported as professional groups mostly involved in unethical practices and corruption,” the report released on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, read in part.
Ministries and agencies under spotlight
Government departments were also scrutinised. According to the report, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the Ministry of Health, the National Treasury and Economic Planning (Pensions Department), the Ministry of Lands, and the Ministry of Education are where unethical practices are most likely to occur.
“It also established Kenya Police, Traffic Police, Directorate of Immigration, National Registration Bureau, the National Treasury, Civil Registration, State Department for Internal Security and National Administration and Social Health Authority as Government Departments and Agencies mostly prone to unethical practices and corruption.”
The 2024 data also shows an increase in corruption levels compared to the 2023 survey. While exact year-on-year percentages were not detailed, the report makes it clear that unethical conduct is worsening across both national and county governments.
The report found that bribes are commonly demanded as the only way to access services. Some of the services flagged as highly prone to bribery include obtaining a tender, TSC placement, resolving land matters, and seeking government employment.
“Bribes are mainly demanded since it’s the only way to obtain the service.”
Despite the rise in unethical conduct, a majority of respondents said they would be unlikely to engage in corruption if given the opportunity, suggesting that the public still supports integrity—though they remain discouraged by the lack of reporting mechanisms and accountability.