Govt asked to act on bribery incidents in enforcement of directives

Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya) says it has witnessed increased reports of bribery reported through mainstream and social media with various recordings of bribery incidents circulating.

In a statement Wednesday, acting executive director Sheila Masinde says they are now recommending that citizens be protected from exploitation or corruption while seeking health services including non-COVID-19 treatment and other services, and safe and secure avenues to report bribery incidents made widely accessible and publicised.

” Following the cessation of movement declared by the President in the Nairobi metropolitan area, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa Counties, we have witnessed increased reports of bribery reported through mainstream and social media with various recordings of bribery incidents circulating. Through social media and other reporting channels, anonymous reports of incidents of bribery at various roadblocks put up by the police to enforce the directive on cessation of movement have
been reported,” said Masinde.

Other incidents of concern they say are the implementation of the Public Health Order (2020) including rules on mask wearing and limitations on the number of passengers in public and private vehicles which has created opportunities for bribery demands.

They also noted reported cases of public hospitals turning away patients due to the directive to decongest hospitals, and others denied access for failure to wear masks and inability to purchase masks being sold at health facilities; Patients suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases, seeking treatment from referral hospitals, unable to access the health facilities following the directive on restricted movement leaving them in desperate need for medical attention.

Another concern was the reported cases of some citizens who do not offer essential services but due to their stature in the society seem to be unlawfully exempted from the cessation of movement directive.

TI-Kenya is recommending that the Ministry of Health and County Governments provide information on any available public complaints’ handling mechanisms established and guide public officials against excesses as they enforce the various directives issued.

It is also urging the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government through the Office of the Inspector General of Police (IG) provide the necessary resources to the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of the National Police Service to enable it operationalise its anonymous reporting systems in line with the Ministry’s 10-point Policing Plan for 2020/2021 on having a 24-hour manned hotline.

“In  respect  to  police  bribery,  the  Inspector  General  and  the  Ethics  and  Anti-Corruption Commission  should  regularly  provide  updates  on  reports  received,  investigations conducted,  and  sanctions  taken  against  officers  to  demonstrate  commitment  to  uphold integrity in policing,” said Masinde.

Masinde says all reports on corruption in the enforcement of COVID-19 containment measures should be investigated, prosecuted and sanctioned with no exception.

“We advise citizens to report all incidents of corruption through the various reporting channels i.e. the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) through 0798 474 619 and get free legal advice on corruption-related cases through TI-Kenya’s toll-free number 0800-720-721/SMS 40019,” she added.