Kenya: Paying to Work - Bribery and the Earnings of Kenya's Informal Workers

What the report says

An African Arguments analysis distributed by AllAfrica says informal workers in Kenya often face demands for unofficial payments from police officers or county inspectors simply to keep working. The piece focuses on motorbike taxi riders, hawkers and small traders, arguing that these daily requests function like an informal tax even though they are not set by law and do not guarantee any service in return. It is based on the World Bank’s Kenya Economic Update, published on 4 November 2026, which links weak governance and corruption to slower job creation and uneven gains from economic growth.

The article says the World Bank estimates that informal workers can lose up to 20 percent of daily earnings through bribery, though it notes that the most detailed figures cited are estimates rather than the result of a full survey. It adds that Kenya’s large informal sector leaves many workers with unstable incomes and little protection, making even small bribe demands significant. The report also points to broader evidence from Afrobarometer and World Bank data suggesting that poorer people are more likely to report paying bribes after police encounters.

Beyond street-level corruption, the analysis says bribery also affects firms, with many businesses describing corruption as a serious obstacle. It says corruption can reduce innovation, productivity and sales growth, while also widening fiscal deficits. The report recommends reforms such as more transparent procurement, stronger oversight and simpler procedures. Overall, the article argues that Kenya’s growth may not translate into better living standards unless informal workers are able to keep more of what they earn.