Seven in Ten Kenyans Pay Bribes to Police, 2025 Bribery Index Reveals
A recent report has shed light on the pervasive issue of bribery within Kenya's public sector, with the National Police Service emerging as the most corrupt institution. The 2025 Kenya Bribery Index, conducted by a leading anti-corruption organization, reveals that 72 percent of Kenyans who interacted with police officers in the past year encountered a bribery situation, underscoring the systemic challenges facing the country's law enforcement.
The comprehensive survey, which sampled 1,033 respondents across 15 counties, examined experiences and perceptions of corruption across various public sectors, including police services, judiciary, education, land services, civil registration, health, tax, and motor vehicle licensing. The findings paint a troubling picture, with one in four Kenyans reporting they faced a bribery situation while seeking public services. Of those, 23 percent were explicitly or implicitly asked to pay a bribe, while two percent admitted to offering bribes without solicitation.
The police topped the bribery index with a score of 84, significantly higher than land services at 45 and motor vehicle licensing at 43.7. The report highlights that nearly 40 percent of all reported bribes were paid to police officers, with the sector also leading in the prevalence of bribery at 51 percent. This means that for every two Kenyans encountering a bribery situation with the police, one ends up paying to access services. The likelihood of being asked for a bribe when interacting with police services was reported at 72.2 percent, followed by land services and civil registration, both exceeding 60 percent.
The judiciary, while showing some improvement in the likelihood of encountering bribery, recorded the highest average bribe amount at 18,800 Kenyan Shillings, a 33 percent increase from 2017. Land services followed with an average bribe of 12,610 Kenyan Shillings, largely due to the high frequency of human interactions in land transactions. Despite efforts to digitize services, such as the Ardhi Sasa platform introduced in Nairobi and Murang’a counties, most regions remain vulnerable to corrupt practices.
The report also noted gender disparities in bribery experiences, with men accounting for 64 percent of reported bribe payments compared to 36 percent for women. This difference may stem from men’s greater economic activity and interactions with public institutions, creating more opportunities for bribery demands. Additionally, the survey found that reporting bribery incidents has improved, rising from six percent in 2017 to 17 percent in 2025. However, 47 percent of those who did not report cited a lack of confidence in enforcement agencies, believing no action would be taken.
Among public institutions, Huduma Centres stood out as the least bribery-prone, with only a nine percent likelihood of encountering bribery. This suggests that centralized, streamlined service delivery models may help reduce corruption. However, the overall increase in bribery incidents, particularly within the police and land services, raises concerns about the effectiveness of service delivery and its impact on ordinary Kenyans. The report questions what happens to those who cannot afford to pay bribes, highlighting potential inequalities in access to essential services.
The findings also have broader implications for Kenya’s economy and international reputation. High levels of corruption, especially in sectors like law enforcement and land administration, deter foreign direct investment and undermine public trust in governance. The report calls for stronger anti-corruption measures, including increased accountability, better enforcement of existing laws, and expanded digitalization to minimize opportunities for bribery.
As Kenya grapples with these challenges, the 2025 Bribery Index serves as a stark reminder of the need for systemic reforms to address corruption and restore public confidence in institutions. The data underscores the urgency of tackling bribery not only to improve service delivery but also to foster a more equitable and transparent society.