The cost of registering a business in Kenya could be higher than the face value following the high prevalence rate of bribery in the sector, according to the National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECs), 2023.
- Registration of business, application of TSC number, obtaining a tender, registration or transfer of vehicle, and collection of building certificate top sectors where the service issuers will ask for ‘something small’ to speed up the process.
- Those seeking to obtain subsidized fertilizer, NHIF card, business permit, visa, social protection cash transfer and KRA pin number are also likely to part away with some money to get the services.
- According to NECs., each time a person paid a bribe for these services, they were more likely to receive the service than if they did not pay the bribe.
“The indicator reveals that impact of bribery on public institutions is more evident in the County Commissioner/Deputy/Assistant County Commissioner Office, Public Service Commission, National Construction Authority (NCA), Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives,” EACC notes in the NECs.
Average Size of Bribe
The national average bribe increased from KSh 6,865 in 2022 to stand at KSh 11,625 in 2023, which is the highest increase since 2005. The national average bribe was low in 2007 at KSh 2,711 down from 2006 where it averaged at KSh 3,079.
On average, respondents paid the largest amount of bribe while seeking employment (KSh 163,260). Other services were application for a passport (KSh 74,428), seeking a police abstract (KSh 20,300), obtaining a tender (KSh 17,000), and solving land conflicts (KSh 12,673).
The respondents paid the largest amount of bribe in the National Transport and Safety Authority (KSh 81,801). Other public institutions where service seekers had to pay large bribe amounts to access services were the Judiciary (KSh 49,611), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KSh 40,000) and the County Government offices (KSh 26,223).
On average, respondents paid the largest amount of bribe in West Pokot (KSh 56,695) followed by Nairobi (KSh 37,768); Murang’a (KSh 18,378); Kisii (KSh 16,810); Uasin Gishu (KSh 11,136); Kitui (KSh 9,849); Busia (KSh 7,468); and Tharaka-Nithi (KSh 7,041) counties.
The aim of the National Ethics and Corruption Survey, 2023 was to establish the status and perception on corruption in the country by generating data on the magnitude, awareness levels, access to anti-corruption services and effectiveness of existing anti-corruption initiatives.
The study population consisted of a representative household sample of 5,100 respondents aged 18 years and above distributed across all the 47 counties.
“The corrosive effects of corruption diminish private and public sector investments, hinder economic growth, contribute to political instability and foster insecurity. Corruption assumes various forms perpetrated by different actors, ranging from small bribes to more intricate schemes like kickbacks, fraud, collusion, embezzlement, extortion, influence peddling, and beneficial ownership,” noted Chairperson Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission David Oginde.
See Also:
