Women, Singles Lead in Paying Bribes – EACC Corruption Survey 2025

A new survey reveals that women in Kenya pay bribes more frequently than men when accessing essential public services.

The Kenya National Gender and Corruption Survey 2025, released on 9 April by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), shows that corruption affects citizens differently depending on gender, marital status, and income. Women were more likely to pay bribes to tax and revenue officers, immigration officials, and health workers, while men reported higher incidences of bribery involving police, transport regulators, and educators. 

Analysts link women’s increased exposure to their central role in managing household and family needs, which brings them into repeated contact with officials.

Marital status also shapes patterns of bribery. Single individuals most often bribed civil registration officials and police. 

Those in monogamous marriages engaged in similar practices but at lower rates, while polygamous respondents were more likely to target immigration officials. Divorced respondents predominantly bribed transport authorities, and widows frequently paid civil registration and licensing offices.

Income levels influence both the frequency and scale of bribery. Low-income earners reported smaller but frequent bribes, often to judges and immigration officers, whereas wealthier citizens faced larger payments to land registries, tax offices, and members of parliament. 

Overall, police officers were the most bribed officials, with more than a third of respondents admitting to payments. Magistrates commanded the highest average bribes, while routine services such as birth certificates involved smaller sums.

The survey also highlighted sexual exploitation in public service delivery. Nearly one in ten respondents reported indirect requests for sexual favours, predominantly affecting women. Direct demands, while less common, were reported among young people seeking jobs or medical care.

Services most prone to bribery included birth certificate applications, detention releases, medical services, and national identification. Bribes were often paid to expedite services, avoid bureaucracy, or escape punitive measures. Despite the prevalence of corruption, reporting remains low, driven by mistrust of authorities and the perception that bribery is normal.