Corruption and growth: lessons from Kenya and South Sudan: a systematic review

Abstract Corruption is consistently associated with impeded economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, with pronounced effects in Kenya and South Sudan, two East African nations with divergent political and economic contexts. All studies were re-screened to ensure relevance to South Sudan (post-2011 independence). This qualitative systematic review was conducted using Popay et al. [52] narrative synthesis framework. The framework synthesises peer-reviewed empirical studies from 2000 to 2025 to examine how corruption is associated with reduced gross domestic product (GDP) growth, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, and employment in these countries. In Kenya, an emerging economy with diverse sectors, corruption in public procurement, taxation, and law enforcement diverts resources to rent-seeking, which is associated with higher business costs and lower FDI, exacerbating unemployment and inequality despite robust anti-corruption frameworks like the ethics and anti-corruption commission (EACC). In South Sudan, a post-conflict, oil-dependent nation, widespread embezzlement and patronage networks are associated with impeded economic progress, lower FDI through regulatory uncertainty, and higher unemployment and poverty. Employing PRISMA guidelines, this review analysed 20 studies identified from databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and JSTOR, using the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) for quality assurance. Following re-screening, five studies originally coded as South Sudan were identified as about Sudan and reclassified. The final evidence base comprises 20 studies: 10 Kenya-specific empirical, 5 South Sudan-specific empirical, and 5 regional or cross-country contextual studies; the resulting asymmetric evidence base is acknowledged as a key limitation. Key findings highlight corruption’s role in being associated with lower, correlating with lower GDP by misallocating resources, correlating with lower FDI through increased risks, and associated with weaker merit-based hiring, particularly affecting youth. The review distinguishes sophisticated corruption [6] in Kenya -complex, institutionalised schemes within relatively stable governance) from overt corruption in South Sudan [60] compounded by conflict and weak institutions. Given the asymmetric evidence base, South Sudan’s conclusions should be treated as tentative and agenda-setting rather than definitive. These associational insights point towards context-specific anti-corruption strategies, strengthened institutional frameworks, and targeted FDI policies to foster sustainable development and equitable opportunities in both nations.