The Ministry of Interior and National Administration has been ranked as the most corrupt public institution in Kenya, according to the 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The damning report reveals that 47.8% of Kenyans who interacted with the ministry between August and October 2024 experienced or witnessed corruption or unethical behaviour more than double the percentage of the second-ranked ministry.
The Ministry of Health followed at a distant second with 19.7%, while the National Treasury was third at 5.8%. Other ministries cited in the survey include Lands (5.6%), Transport (3.9%), and Education (2.6%).
The nationwide survey, which polled over 6,000 respondents, highlights a deeply entrenched culture of bribery and unethical practices in public service. It paints a grim picture of a country where citizens often feel forced to pay bribes to access services, secure employment, or influence legal and administrative outcomes.
Most troubling, the report shows that many Kenyans view corruption as a necessary evil. Fear of victimisation and lack of trust in anti-corruption institutions deter victims from reporting such incidents. “Some victims of corruption do not report for fear of intimidation or because they lack faith in the institutions responsible for dealing with corruption,” the EACC report states.
At the county level, Nairobi leads in reported cases of corruption, followed by Kiambu, Machakos, Kisumu, and Nakuru counties—raising red flags about governance at the devolved levels.
In response, the EACC has called for stronger enforcement of anti-corruption laws, robust public education, protection of whistleblowers, and sweeping structural reforms in high-risk ministries. The Commission emphasised the need for public officials to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability.
“Citizens must be empowered to demand accountability from duty bearers,” the EACC stressed, urging Kenyans to remain vigilant and speak out against unethical practices.
The findings serve as a stark reminder of the challenges Kenya faces in fighting corruption, and the urgent need for collective action to restore public trust in government institutions.
