Article by Damaris Aswa
Abstract
Corruption is a global plague, one that silently drains resources, undermines democracies, and erodes the social contract between citizens and their governments. But beyond the headlines of embezzled funds and high-profile scandals lies a far more insidious reality: corruption has a gender. Yes, it is more than just a governance issue, it is a deeply gendered crisis that silently robs women of their rights, safety, and dignity. While billions are lost annually to corruption across Africa, the unseen cost is often borne by women and girls especially those in marginalized areas who face systemic barriers, extortion, and even sexual exploitation just to access basic services like healthcare, education, and justice. This article peels back the layers of this crisis, exposing the gendered dimensions of corruption with a focus on Kenya. It challenges us to rethink what corruption truly means, who it hurts the most, and how we can reimagine the fight for integrity as a fight for gender equality, justice, and dignity. If we are serious about ending corruption, we must equally start by seeing its gendered face. Until we address the intersection between the two, we’ll continue leaving half the population behind.
Paying the price
-Corruption is not gender-blind, it’s a thief that picks the pockets of the poor and the dignity of women.-
Imagine being a pregnant woman in rural Kenya, walking miles to the nearest health facility only to find no medicine, no staff, and no care. Not because the government forgot you, but because someone somewhere pocketed the money meant for your survival. The funds for this facility? Embezzled. The lives lost? Uncounted. The pain? Silenced.
Now imagine being asked for a bribe or worse, a sexual favor just to access a public service like a job, passport, bursary, etc that should be your right. Like walking into a government office to apply for a business permit, only to be asked for a bribe or worse, a sexual favor.
This isn’t fiction nor just mere corruption. This is gendered injustice right? This is the lived reality for countless women across Africa, where corruption wears a hidden but unmistakably gendered face.
Too often, corruption is portrayed as a high-level game where politicians are caught in scandal, or officials exposed in exposés. We often speak of corruption in terms of stolen billions and shady political deals. But the most devastating effects are found in everyday encounters, especially for women and girls. From denied land rights to coerced transactional sex, from health crises to educational collapse; the impact is real, personal, and profoundly unjust. Corruption has a gendered face and it’s time we look it in the eye.
Understanding the gender dimensions of corruption
As earlier stated, corruption isn’t just a governance issue. It’s a deeply social one shaped by power dynamics, cultural norms, and gender roles.
According to the African Union, over $50 billion is lost to corruption every year on the continent. But beyond the staggering financial cost, the social cost especially for women is incalculable.
Women, especially those in poor or marginalized communities, often bear the brunt of denied services, exploited for access, or excluded from decision-making entirely.
-The reality is that women face corruption not only more often but more harshly.-
A 2022 World Bank report revealed that women in Africa are more likely to encounter corruption when seeking essential services such as healthcare, education, social protection. In Uganda, 40% of women reported paying bribes for health services, compared to 30% of men.
In Kenya, women face even steeper barriers. Public services (already strained) become inaccessible when bribes are demanded, especially in rural areas. Misappropriated maternal health funds have directly led to increased maternal mortality, leaving women to die in silence.
But the trauma runs deeper.
-Transactional sex has become an unspoken currency in corrupt systems.-
In various Kenyan counties, women report being coerced into sexual favors in exchange for public services or employment. Is it just corruption? It is state-enabled sexual violence.
Let’s now talk about a vicious cycle of exploitation when it comes to women and corruption.
Women face uniquely harmful consequences from corruption:
• Healthcare Exploitation: In 2018, funds meant for life-saving medical equipment in Kenya’s public hospitals vanished in a corruption scandal. The result? Empty hospital shelves. For rural women relying on public maternity services, this translated into unsafe deliveries, maternal deaths, and unnecessary suffering.
• Sexual Bribery: In public offices across Kenya, women report being asked for sexual favors in exchange for jobs or essential services. This form of exploitation, often overlooked, is a gross violation of human rights.
• Education Sabotage: When corruption siphons off funds meant for education, as seen in the 2019 Free Primary Education scandal, girls drop out first. They’re pushed into early marriages or domestic labor, continuing a cycle of poverty.
• Land Grabbing: Land is power. But corruption in land registries denies women access to one of the most vital economic resources ie women rightful ownership. Through bribery, forged documents, or favoritism toward male relatives, women are systematically excluded from economic empowerment. Despite being the backbone of agriculture, many women in Kenya remain landless unless you’re willing to pay the price.
• Justice Denied: In cases of gender-based violence, women seeking police intervention are often met with demands for bribes. This doesn’t mean men aren’t violated but rather they rarely seek for help (a discussion worth noting). In informal settlements, survivors are told to “pay to report”; an appalling barrier to justice. Some give up. Others suffer in silence. The message? Justice is for sale and women can’t always afford it.
And what about the pressure to conform when it comes to men, masculinity, and corruption?
Men are not immune to the matter at hand but their experiences differ. In highly patriarchal systems, men often face pressure to engage in corruption as a sign of power or success. In South Africa, 25% of men in public service admitted to participating in corruption, often to climb the career ladder.
Social norms often equate masculinity with material success, pushing men toward unethical shortcuts to meet societal expectations. In Kenya, societal expectations of men as providers sometimes push them into corrupt systems to maintain status or income.
-Masculinity, when defined by wealth and status, can become a driver of corrupt behavior.-
The toxic culture of silence around corruption makes it worse especially in leadership spaces where whistleblowing is seen as weakness. Tackling corruption, therefore, also means confronting toxic masculinity and redefining integrity as strength.
With all said things above, there is a beautiful twist! A changing narrative! Women are increasingly becoming catalysts for Anti-Corruption
Women are not just victims as they leading the charge as warriors in the fight against corruption.
• In Kenya, organizations like KEWOPA (Kenya Women Parliamentary Association) champion transparency and inclusivity in governance.
• Transparency International Kenya trains women in legal literacy, reporting mechanisms, and advocacy.
• The “We the People” grassroots movement, led by Kenyan women, monitors public budgets and holds leaders accountable. These women have successfully stopped corrupt deals and demanded better service delivery.
Youth are equally supporting this fight against corruption by choosing integrity as a lifestyle!
At Youth4 Integrity Building, we’re raising a new generation of Kenyan leaders committed to honesty, justice, and inclusion. By equipping youth with tools, mentorship, and platforms to speak up , we’re turning their frustration into action. From digital whistleblowing tools to community dialogues, the new generation is rising to fight back against the culture of corruption.
We’ve seen how young people are flipping the script.
-They’re rejecting the normalisation of corruption, reporting abuses, using tech to push for accountability, and organizing forums to talk about gender, justice, and integrity.-
This generation doesn’t want excuses, they want ethics. They are uniquely placed to disrupt the status quo through civic tech, social media, and grassroots organizing. Their innovation and courage are reshaping what integrity looks like in the 21st century. The fight against corruption must include them not just as allies, but as leaders.
So, how else can we turn the tide and rewrite the narrative?
To win the fight against corruption, we must bring gender into the equation. Rwanda leads the way—61% of its Parliament are women, the highest globally. The result? Stronger anti-corruption measures and more inclusive governance. Kenya’s 2010 Constitution introduced gender quotas in leadership. While implementation has been slow, it marks a critical step toward equality.
Yet policy is only half the battle. Patriarchal cultures remain a major barrier. We must deconstruct harmful norms that silence women, pressure men into corruption, and define leadership as inherently male.
Here’s how:
• Introduce gender-sensitive anti-corruption frameworks. Policies must reflect the unique ways women encounter corruption, whether through sexual coercion or access barriers.
• Women must have a seat at every table.
• Financial literacy and civic education for women are powerful tools. Empowered women can recognize, resist, and report corruption.
• Patriarchal norms that silence women and glorify corrupt masculinity must be challenged. From schools to churches, we must shift how society views power, leadership, and integrity.
• Community led monitoring is key. Grassroots movements like “We the People” have shown that local women can drive accountability. By tracking government projects and demanding transparency, these movements change both systems and mindsets.
• Women empowerment is crucial. Programs like Transparency International Kenya’s Women Empowerment Program train women to detect and report corruption. These women are leading community watchdog groups and demanding transparency in local projects from water access to road construction.
As I conclude this article, please remember that the fight against corruption requires a gender justice lens.
Corruption is neither an abstract nor merely about money. It’s about power, access, and equity. It is the stolen medicine, the lost school desk, the unreported rape. And when power is unequally distributed, when voices are silenced and dignity is denied, corruption thrives. And too often, it is the woman who pays the ultimate price.
In our efforts to end corruption in Kenya, we must equally start fighting for women. We must empower, include, and protect them; not just as victims, but as the leaders and change-makers they are. By empowering women, dismantling patriarchy, and demanding gender-sensitive governance we will be winning this fight. And when women rise, integrity rises with them.
-We must also educate our communities, support whistleblowers, and make integrity not just a policy but a way of life.-
Always remember that you don’t need to be a politician to fight corruption. Whether you’re a teacher, a student, a civil servant, or a community member; you have a voice. Use it.
Advocate. Organize. Educate. Report. Support women’s leadership. Challenge toxic masculinity. Push for accountability in every corner.
Together, let’s expose the gendered face of corruption—and build a Kenya where justice, dignity, and equality are not dreams, but lived realities.
What you can do:
• Support local organizations fighting corruption with a gender lens.
• Educate others about how corruption impacts women.
• Speak up when you see or experience corruption.
• Vote for women. Noble women. Advocate for equal representation.
-Because when integrity includes everyone, everyone wins.-
And most importantly,
-Integrity starts from within! Live it! Nurture it! Spread it!-