An Experimental Study of Corruption on Student in Kenya: The Next Generations' Willingness to Change

Abstract: This Thesis investigates how the next generation of Kenyans acts in corrupt contexts, when exposed in situations where you can support or inhibit the success for an individual from the same tribe. More specifically we want to understand if mitigating corruption is a priority for them or if their loyalty towards their tribe is stronger. We conducted a three person sequential move game, which was played by 462 students at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. In a classroom environment a corrupt scenario was presented to them and then they had the possibility to take action. There were three different game set-ups with different relationships of the players in the storyline, in referral to tribe belonging. When in the need of bribing an official, this relationship made no difference in the amount of bribes. However, when in the decision making position of accepting the bribe, it resulted in a high rate of students trying to help and protect their own tribe. This pressure of loyalty towards their own group was defined by them as a social norm and it prevented them in taking part in reducing corruption in the country. The last player, who had the possibility to punish the bribing act, chose to punish close to every time. That way of acting still shows a will to mitigate corruption, but this will is many times hindered by values and norms, such as helping your own in the society.