Predominantly Muslim regions deemed less corrupt - Survey

By Protus Onyango

A new report depicting Counties in Muslim dominated regions as less corrupt has sparked a debate,  as fears emerge that  devolved governments could become seats of mega scandals.

A  National Corruption Perception Survey, 2011, carried out by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) says that out of the ten least corrupt Counties, seven are predominantly Muslim.

The report covers the period from August last year to September this year.

 It names the least corrupt Counties as  Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Mandera and Mombasa.

The other three in the least corrupt counties are West Pokot, Samburu and Kitui. In West Pokot and Samburu, not even one of the bribery demands was met.

 In 2010, Keiyo Marakwet County had the least bribery incidence in the country, followed by Lamu, Baringo and Kajiado.

 In Isiolo, there was a four per cent chance of being bribed as compared to Mombasa, which recorded 32 per cent chance of meeting a bribery demand.

 The survey noted that Samburu County leads those counties with least cases of bribery demands among those seeking public services at seven per cent. West Pokot, Marsabit, Kitui, Marakwet, Isiolo, Tana River, Laikipia, Homabay and Kisumu follow it. Kisumu recorded 25 per cent of bribery demands.

 “The findings revealed that Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Nyamira, Kiambu and Taita Taveta counties are the most corrupt in Kenya,” says  the report.

 It adds: “ Kirinyaga, Makueni, Mandera, Bungoma and Kisii followed them in that order. Meru recorded 64 per cent of bribery demands while Kisii recorded 49 per cent.”

 In 2010, Narok County had the highest percentage of Kenyans who paid bribes, followed by Kisii, Homabay, Mandera, Garissa and Nyamira.

All bribery demands in Turkana and Makueni were met. Other counties where bribery demands were met are Vihiga, Nyamira, Nandi, Nyandarua, Kiambu, Kisii, Migori and Nakuru.

 The survey also found out that urban residents paid more bribes than their rural counterparts. A person living in Nairobi averagely pays Sh8,000 as a bribe as compared to Sh2000 paid by a person who resides in rural Western Kenya.

 University graduates are willing to pay bribes as compared to any other cadres of education. Those without formal education are the most reluctant to pay bribes, followed by those with primary education.

 According to the survey, Embu County leads the rest with the average bribe given. In Embu, the average bribe is Sh9100, followed by Kisumu with Sh8,950, Nairobi Sh8,010, Trans Nzoia Sh7730 and Kwale Sh6,966.

Easiest services

 At number six is Marakwet Sh6500, followed by Kirinyaga Sh6156, Migori Sh 5715, Murang’a Sh4847 and Kericho Sh4546. In 2010, Nairobi had the highest bribe size of Sh12, 057 followed by Kilifi Sh11, 739, Wajir Sh11, 578 and Narok Sh10, 341.

 Garissa County leads with the least average bribe of Sh422 followed by Kitui Sh500 and Marsabit Sh5490. At number four is Uasin Gishu Sh628, followed by Machakos Sh833, Vihiga Sh884, Turkana Sh938, Tana River Sh1050, Siaya Sh1135 and Wajir Sh1187.

 “Respondents indicated that a voter registration card, primary and secondary school placement, driving license, pension after retirement and passport were the easiest public services to access,” explained the report.

 On the other hand, getting a birth or death certificate, an identity card, help from the police, title deed, piped water and electricity and accessing land records was very difficult.

 The survey found out that the Roads ministry is the most improved in service delivery followed by the Education ministry, Public Health and Sanitation, Medical Services ministry and the ministry of Provincial Administration and Internal Security.

 Heavy fines

 Though it is among government agencies that have improved, the ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security is perceived to be the most corrupt, followed by the Lands and Education ministries.

 The regular police emerged as the most corrupt, followed by the National Registration Bureau, Provincial Administration and traffic police, government hospitals, local authorities, lands office and government schools.

 The reasons given by the public for engaging in corruption are to seek employment, obtain government services, avoid following official procedures and if a policeman arrests them.

 Other reasons are to get out of poverty, seek help from police, promotion to higher rank at work, obtain relief food, seek an elective post or army recruitment or acquire business tenders.

 The survey also established that 73.5 per cent of the respondents did not get the services even after paying the bribe. When asked to explain why they think they did not get the services even after paying the bribe, 50 per cent said that more money was required, 23 per cent said the process was still too long while 20 per cent indicated that they bribed people who turned out to be brokers or conmen.

 Members of the public want corrupt persons to be jailed, return stolen assets, dismissed from public office and fined heavily.

Reference data

Journalists, bankers, doctors and nurses and economists are the professionals that are least involved in corruption.

On the other hand, lawyers, quantity and land surveyors, accountants, auditors, engineers and architects are perceived as mostly involved in corruption.

 The administration police lead the pack of public officers involved in corruption. Regular police, traffic police, judges and magistrates and human resource officers follow them. The survey found out that the media lead other institutions in fighting corruption. Religious organisations, EACC, civil society and the Kenya Human Rights Commission follow it.

 The survey provides data and information on the incidence, frequency, prevalence, and size of bribes and severity of corruption in the country. It is an annual survey that trends perceptions on corruption. The survey is mainly used by EACC, Government agencies and other stakeholders as reference data for planning anti-corruption programmes in the country.

A   Garissa businessman, Ali Abdi hailed the report saying it captures the reality of the situation across the Counties.

“I am happy something positive has been said about the North Eastern Province.  Our region has all along been painted   as hell on earth where nothing good happens,” Abdi told The County Weekly on phone from Garrisa.

He added: “I support the report because I have done business in some of the Counties named as the most corrupt and I had to stop and return home because everybody wanted a bribe before rendering any service.”

But Martin Mbugua who operates a private college in Nairobi doubts the accuracy of the report. “I have not read the report  but I will be very interested in  knowing the criteria  they have used in their  survey,” he said.