Jeff Otieno
18 July 2008
Nairobi — The Police Department has maintained its position as the most corrupt public institution in the country.
According to the latest Kenya Bribery Index, police officers are the leading bribe takers, scooping the top honours with an aggregate index of 57.
The Police Department has been topping the list in the last four years, in what anti-graft lobbyists refer to as the officers' penchant for bribes.
The report says a record 93 per cent of the people interviewed who interacted with the police were confronted with a bribery situation.
It says the majority of Kenyans still perceive corruption as one of the biggest challenges facing the country.
"The perception is that little has so far changed. The only notable movement was towards the negative with a total perception increasing over the last four years," says the document.
Local authorities
Closely following the police are local authorities (excluding Nairobi City Council and Mombasa Municipal Council) and the Ministry of Local Government with an index of 47.
On an aggregate index scale of between zero and 100, only the police department exceeds the halfway mark of 50. The scale measures the degree of corruption based on the response received from the public.
Third on the list of most corrupt public institutions is the Ministry of Lands.
The ministry has been on the spotlight over the controversial sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.
The sale of the asset led to the resignation of Finance minister Amos Kimunya.
The survey, released Thursday at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, was conducted by Transparency International between April 25 and May 4 in both rural and urban areas.
A total of 2,400 respondents, randomly selected, took part in the survey.
Fourth on the list is the Immigration Department, with an aggregate index score of 37.
The department is also embroiled in controversy after Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang' was accused of issuing work permits to undeserving foreigners.
The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission is currently investigating the department over scams involving a cartel of civil servants.
Political analyst Tom Wolf said the index could have been higher if foreigners seeking work permits and citizenship documents were interviewed.
Kenyan adults
"The research was only restricted to Kenyan adults and foreigners were not interviewed. There is a high chance that the index would have changed had foreigners been interviewed," said Dr Wolf.
Private universities are in fifth position in the bribery list.
There has been an increase in the number of private universities in the recent past, with some offering questionable certificates and degrees.
Sixth on the list is the Provincial Administration with an aggregate index of 33, with Nairobi City Council and the Ministry of Health closely following at 31.
The Mombasa Municipal Council takes the eighth position, with public hospitals filling the 10th slot.
According to the report, the Kenya Revenue Authority, water companies and private universities are the new entrants in the latest corruption list.
Transparency International chairman Richard Leakey said the Government must appreciate that the fight against corruption could not be won through isolated measures.
"Public institutions must, therefore, install a far-reaching and inclusive system that outlives environmental changes in political and administrative leadership," said Dr Leakey.
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