Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has sent a strong warning to corrupt government officials, saying tough action will be taken after a new report exposed how deep bribery has spread in public offices.
Speaking during the launch of the Kenya National Gender and Corruption Survey 2025 at Safari Park Hotel, Ruku said the government will not tolerate corruption in public service.
He made it clear that anyone found engaging in corruption has no place in government, adding that he is ready to act quickly.
“I will move with speed to deal with any corrupt officer in my ministry before the President acts,” he said.
The findings from the EACC show that corruption remains a serious issue in various sectors of society.
Based on the findings, members of the judicial system are some of the most bribed people. The highest bribes were found to be received by magistrates, who were found to receive bribes worth more than KSh160,000 in cash.
Ruku stated that this report will assist the government in getting rid of corrupt practices in public institutions. It was mentioned that there have been attempts in departments such as the National Youth Service where corrupt officials have been identified and sacked from their positions.
Furthermore, Ruku highlighted emerging trends in the area of corruption. According to the report, women are now playing a bigger role in certain networks of corruption. However, it was revealed that women are amongst those individuals that are most affected by corrupt practices in service delivery such as health care and education due to petty bribes, extortion, and sexual favors.
Ruku called upon all judicial and public institutions to act and implement the information provided.
Ruku encouraged Kenyans not to look for easy ways out whenever they visit any governmental institution in order to get services. This is because they feed into corruption in the country.
He pointed to Huduma Centres as a good example of how services should be offered, noting that they are faster and more organised.
The CS said the government is also working to improve the welfare of public servants, including salary increases, so that they have no excuse to engage in corruption.
“Public servants have no reason not to serve Kenyans well,” he said.
On the other hand, Ruku blamed some of the opposition leaders for making the anti-corruption struggle political rather than backing the attempts to deal with the problem.
The document was unveiled amidst various political leaders such as David Oginde and Abdi Mohamud, who also appealed for collaboration between the authorities and the citizens in fighting corruption.
There were expectations that the outcome would play a vital role in developing policies to minimize corruption while tackling the problems faced by women in accessing the services.
