REPORT: 4 Reasons Why Police Officers’ Bribery Increased Since 2022
On Monday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) released an audit and research study that highlighted the extent of corruption and bribery within the National Police Service (NPS).
According to a report issued by the EACC at the Embakasi Police Training School, the average bribe amount given to regular and traffic police officers climbed by 39.1% and 84.2%, respectively, between 2022 and 2023.
This resulted in members of the public paying an average of Ksh11,115 for a service from normal police and an average of Ksh7,000 for the same from traffic cops.
According to the audit, the average Kenyan requesting a police abstract spent Ksh20,000 in 2023, up from Ksh2,000 in 2022.
This is despite the fact that the document is one of the main qualifications for service outlined in the police service charter.
Kenyans seeking police protection paid an average of Ksh6,887 in 2023, an increase from Ksh816 in bribes in 2018.
However, the sum spent by Kenyans to bribe for the certificate of good conduct was reduced to Ksh541 in 2023, down from Ksh2,183 in 2022.
Over the last two years, there has been a rise in the number of people who have bribed both regular and traffic police.
According to the research, 75 out of 100 people admitted to bribing traffic police in 2024, up from 69 in 2023 and 2022.
The survey discovered that the likelihood of being asked for a bribe while seeking police help remained high, while the possibility of receiving improved service after bribing remained low.
The research discovered that corruption and bribery were still firmly established in the service, owing to poor processes that exposed officials to unethical actions.
The vice was also held responsible for a lack of command responsibility and supervisory supervision.
The command structure of the service was also determined to have contributed to the unfavorable trend by illegally withholding money and allowances from officers’ benefits.
Furthermore, the audit reprimanded the NPS for failing to establish the necessary papers in accordance with Chapter Six of the Constitution to deal with the vice.
Noncompliance with the Leadership and Integrity Act of 2012, as well as poor prevention methods, were criticized.
REPORT: 4 Reasons Why Police Officers’ Bribery Increased Since 2022
