African Leaders and After Office Causes to Corruption

Abstract: The aim of the thesis is to contribute to research about African leadership and causes of corruption and with point of departure in previous research, to add to research about postpolitical prospects affect on leadership. The thesis wants to investigate the argument that severance pay, arrangements regarding personal security and immunity from prosecution as well as the ability to retain status and have a successful career also after office affect the leaders’ level of corruption. The research question in focus is: • Do African national leader’s post-political prospects affect the leader’s level of corruption? Four presidents in Kenya, after independence to present; Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki och Uhuru Kenyatta are comparative research cases. The method of process tracing is used in the qualitative thesis. Process tracing allows the researcher to use even quantitative data and is excellent at analysing and explain causal mechanisms in complex areas and create a relationship to theoretical explanations. The results indicates that the president’s post-political prospects: economy, security and status / career do not particularly affect the leader’s level of corruption.