By Andrew Kariuki

Court magistrates receive the highest average bribes among public officials in Kenya, according to the Kenya National Gender and Corruption Survey 2025 by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The report places magistrates at the top, with an average bribe of Ksh164,367, significantly higher than other public officials.

Land registry officers follow with an average of Ksh17,996, while Members of County Assembly (MCAs) receive Ksh13,038. Immigration officers were listed at Ksh12,102, with prosecutors averaging Ksh11,809.

Police officers recorded the lowest average bribe among the listed public officials at Ksh4,656, despite being among the most frequently cited in bribery incidents.

The report identifies law enforcement, licensing and land administration as the sectors with the highest corruption levels, noting that many of these institutions are predominantly staffed by men.

“Interestingly, these high-corruption sectors, such as NTSA (92.9% male) and the Police (88.8% male), are overwhelmingly dominated by male officers,” the EACC CEO noted.

The commission says it will deploy undercover integrity testing and enhanced monitoring in sectors identified as high risk.

“We have set a clear target: to reduce bribery prevalence in these identified areas by at least 20% within the next six months,” the CEO added.

Additionally, the report highlights that most bribes are paid before services are rendered, pointing to systemic challenges in service delivery and accountability.

To address the issue, the EACC is advocating for mandatory electronic payments for services such as ID issuance, passports and court processes, as part of broader anti-corruption reforms.