Main causes of unethical conduct and corruption in public service

A 2024 survey by the EACC identifies the primary drivers of unethical conduct and corruption in Kenya's public service.

The leading cause, by a wide margin, is the greed of public officers/selfishness, cited by 44.6% of Kenyans.

Other significant factors include lack of integrity at 7.2%, poverty at 4.3%, and delay in service provision at 3.3%.

Factors like the urgency of the service needed, a culture of corruption, poor pay, and corrupt chiefs each contribute less than 3%.

This breakdown highlights that personal avarice, not systemic poverty, is perceived as the main motivator for unethical behavior among public servants.