Why Kenyan Civil Servants need alternative means of survival

Kenyan civil servants rely on bribes as an alternative means of survival. It's not just for fun. This is why most of our government institutions are rotten; civil servants asking for bribes!

High Tax rates and unfavourable insurance policies in Kenya have made life for civil servants very
difficult.

Taxpayers on strike in May
Photo| The Star

To fight corruption, the government of Kenya must cater for the needs of its employees. Civil servants are endangered.

Take, for example, a case scenario where a Kenyan police officer earns a gross salary of 25K. He has a loan of 80K to repay in 6K monthly installments, still, NHIF and NSSF have to suck him a total of roughly 9K (this is not the actual figure).

So this means he remains with only 10K, put in mind the bank has not yet deducted its service fees.

Can a sane Kenyan tell me what 10K can do for a whole month? You have a family and they need food, clothing, shelter and education!

For Christ's sake why then wouldn't such a person opt for bribes? After all Kitu kidogo is not much of an effort, it only takes bravery in asking.

And you wonder why most police officers in Kenya ask for bribes!

It's not just a question of ethics but also one of survival.

Would you let your children stay home because your salary is insufficient to take them to school?

A 'Wiseman' would probably say yes because after all he is not that wise and man is to error.

There is no single public office in Kenya where you won't be asked for Mafuta ya gari ya Mkubwa. This also includes police stations where you are asked to fuel the Government vehicle so that they can serve you faster.

And they say, “If we don't take bribes from you, where are we going to get our food?"

Hospitals are not an exception. First, they are understaffed then the procurement is of low quality. Some medical officers take drugs from hospitals and sell them over the counter. Why should a civil servant do that? It's wrong but does he have another option?

If you want faster medical attention then you also have to take  care of Daktari's lunch. Bribe! Why?

                                         Civil Servants on strike in May
                                          Photo| The Star

In schools, teachers are known to hire facilities and sell equipment in order to supplement their income. Why do such civil servants need a supplement? Some school heads are known for asking bribes in order to admit new students. Why?

Employers lose valuables because of the same reason. How can you expect a security guard to protect property worth millions yet he doesn't even earn a 5 figure?

This is how absurd our society is.

Everyone has ambitions and our government should respect that. No civil servant wants to see 130K on paper as gross salary yet what he actually takes home is half the amount.

This calls for a civil action and I'm not surprised to see teachers, nurses and doctors going on strike.

Teachers on strike in May
Photo| The Star

The government should fight to reduce deductions on the salary of civil servants. Reduce tax rates and create favourable insurance policies.

Give Kenyan civil servants the pay they deserve and this madness would be done away with!