Overburdened Kenyans face hidden tax of graft
By Editorial, July 18, 2025Transparency International’s latest report on bribery in Kenya makes for sobering reading: corruption has become an unofficial tax system that ordinary Kenyans must bear in what should be a painless process of seeking government services.
As we report elsewhere in today’s edition, under President Ruto’s administration, bribery instances have surged dramatically, with police services recording an alarming 84 percent bribery rate, up from 64 percent in 2019.
Illustrating how deeply entrenched corruption has become in our society, 34 percent of Kenyans report that bribery is the only way to access public services. What are supposed to be constitutional rights have become expensive privileges.
The police alone operate what amounts to a parallel tax system, collecting nearly 40 percent of all bribes paid, surcharging everyone from boda boda and tuktuk operators to long-haul truck drivers and picketing billions annually (according to the anti-graft agency EACC).
The epidemic touches more than just law enforcement. Land services have seen bribery rates jump from 32 percent to 45 percent, while motor vehicle licensing has doubled from 21 percent to 43.7 percent. In the Judiciary, supposedly the guardian of justice, Kenyans must pay an average bribe of Sh18,800 to get services, meaning we have created a two-tiered system where justice goes to the highest bidder.
Considering Kenya’s current economic hardships, corruption is making life even more difficult for citizens. As inflation erodes purchasing power and families struggle to meet basic needs, they must choose between accessing essential services or preserving their limited resources.
Foreign investors and Kenya’s development partners are watching. As we report, the US Department of Trade identifies corruption as the primary barrier to investment and exports in Kenya, directly undermining the country’s economic prospects and job creation potential.
The Kenya Kwanza administration pledged change, but these numbers suggest that we have taken several steps backwards. The Ruto administration must demonstrate genuine commitment to accountability through systemic reforms, prosecution of corrupt officials, and protection of whistleblowers.
Meanwhile, Kenyans continue to pay this hidden tax of corruption while receiving inadequate public services. Eliminating corruption, whose cost falls heavily on the poorest among us, is a matter of social justice.