Bribes for boots: Inside Kenya Prisons recruitment rot

It began with a promise of Sh134,000 for a job in the Kenya Prisons Service.

A young applicant, desperate for employment, handed over the money to an officer who assured him a smooth recruitment. Weeks later, the placement never materialised.

This was just one of 12 of the 17 bribery cases documented in a recent Prisons Ombudsman report released on Tuesday.

The report exposes a system where recruitment, promotions, and placements were openly monetised.

In another case, an officer demanded Sh85,000 for a transfer to a preferred prison station.

A different applicant reported paying Sh200,000 for a posting in a maximum-security facility, only to be left waiting for months.

One senior officer was implicated in receiving Sh250,000 from multiple candidates under the pretext of guaranteeing employment.

The report reveals that in some cases, officers collected the bribes in installments, promising receipts and letters that would secure applicants’ positions.

Many victims only recovered part of the money after reporting the abuse, while others never saw a refund.

The Ombudsman found that recruitment exercises were systematically exploited. Officers used their positions to solicit payments, often targeting young applicants with limited knowledge of official procedures.

Several complainants described being coerced, threatened, or misled by officers who presented themselves as gatekeepers to a secure career.

The cases highlight a culture of impunity: officers at various levels--some in senior administrative roles--were named repeatedly, yet disciplinary action has been slow.

The report calls for a full review of recruitment processes, stronger oversight, and swift prosecution of officers found to have solicited or accepted bribes.

One applicant told the Ombudsman: “I thought honesty would get me the job, but I was asked to pay. When I refused, I was sidelined. Others paid and still waited for months.”