@essyk is right. People mess up systems then complain of corruption. If no one paid a bribe everyone would get efficient services. But when public servants get used to bribes they complicate matters until you give them kitu kidogo. Applying for a passport should be a straight forward matter taking a few minutes, not someone queuing at 5am for 2 days just to fill a form. I was impressed when i went to some huduma centre for NHIF biometric registration and the process took about 10 minutes from the moment i walked into the centre.

Let's be real, no one would like to 'kutoa kitu kidogo' to get government service if the system is reliable and efficient.

This thread reminds me of a friend who refused to 'cooperate' with traffic officer and part-away with 2k only for him to end up in court where the prosecutor was asking for 5k to 'end' the case inside the court room and in full glare of resident magistrate.
In the end, all officers were furious with the guy, due to his 'stubbornness' he earned himself a fine of 30k after wasting 2 days following 'due-process' for a trumped-up traffic offence he did not commit.

The entire system is so corrupt and the sooner we accept it the better because it is the only way we can genuinely start working toward eliminating this monster.

Religious people are the most effed up.... Those taking the facilitation fee are most likely the first ones in church and hold leadership positions huko kwa hekalu....

a sh*thole country where nothing gets done without bribing or making noise. few kenyans will see heaven or even smell heaven.rotten system and society we have.whenever I see a big car or a nice house I have now been conditioned to think of it being fruits of illegal proceeds until proved otherwise.

is there any hope of things getting done right in this country?

As a citizen you did an excellent job for your country and it's future by refusing to pay a bribe. If everyone refused to pay a bribe and followed due process, corruption would be stamped out. Yes it will be painful and expensive to an individual but ultimately we will have a great corruption free country, where our kids wont have to be subjected to the vice.