10 things you should know about Kenyan culture

10 things you should know about Kenyan culture

Kenya is known for many reasons. From the fact that it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa, and has also produced top world athletes for many decades, it is no wonder that many people come with a list of expectations on what to see and do, or maybe just to check out what else the country has to offer.

Kenya has a long history which you can read about on the article “5 Important Facts about the History of Kenya”. This history is what has helped shape the current Kenya that we enjoy today.

After many years of living in this country that I call home, I can shed light on the 10 things you should know about the Kenyan culture before you come. Familiarize yourself with as many of these as you can, and I promise you that your stay will be that much more interesting.

So let’s read on to discover some cultural behaviours from a local.

Photo by Doug Mills/The New York Times

1. “Jambo” is for tourists only

Someone somewhere told tourists coming to Kenya that they should always greet the locals with a “Jambo”. “Jambo” is indeed a form of greeting as explained in the 10 Phrases in Swahili for your Trip to Nairobi. But as we the Kenyans say, the situation on the ground is different.

No one really greets each other with “Jambo” anymore. In fact, use that word and everyone automatically knows you are a tourist or foreigner. This is not a good thing if your intention is to blend in with the locals.

Opt for “kawaida” (normal) forms of greetings like “niaje” for younger people or “habari” when you are addressing an older person. Alternatively, just go with “hi” as English is one of the official languages in the country, and you will be greeted back accordingly.

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2. Time is not a priority….almost everywhere

As unbelievable as this sounds, it is true. Not many Kenyans keep time when it comes to casual meetings. If you plan and agree to meet your local friend in town for example, do not be surprised if they are late and ready with an excuse, or none at all. They will just show up and expect you to proceed with whatever plans you had.

Professional businesses do however keep time, including your tour guide or safari driver, so do not be alarmed.

Understandably, this may seem rude to anyone visiting the country for the first time, so my best advice would be to always expect a 15 to 30 minute delay especially for casual meetings so you do not get disappointed.

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3. Traffic lights are not always respected

This is especially true for Nairobi, the capital city. Traffic lights are there, and for the most part, they will be respected. However, in the late evenings and on Sundays when there are no traffic police officers manning the roads, many people take advantage and never bother with the lights.

For this reason, you have to be very careful as a tourist when walking some of the popular streets in Nairobi or anywhere in Kenya. Do not always rely on the traffic lights or expect that the driver in the car in front of you will rely on them. Always watch out for yourself!

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4. Not all Kenyans run

In my article “The 10 Greatest Kenyan Athletes of All Time”, I explained how Kenyans always get the question “Do you run?” whenever they visit other countries especially out of Africa. This question might be asked on a light note, but it stopped being funny a long time ago, if that is the intention.

As much as the country produces some of the best athletes in the world, it is wrong to assume that we all run.

In fact, most of these famous runners come from a particular tribe – the Kalenjins who make a very small percentage of the total Kenyan population (about 8%), and who do not even reside in major cities which is where you will find most tourists.

So stay away from this question however funny it might sound to you.

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5. When a Kenyan offers you food, you accept

This is one of those unspoken rules in many Kenyan homes. Food in Kenya, as with many other parts of the world, is meant to bring people together. Any time one has guests coming over or even a friend dropping by, they will almost always make an effort to get you something to eat.

Even in the villages, visiting someone at their home whether you had planned to or are just passing by, you will most probably be welcomed with something to eat. And so it is really rude to not accept whatever you are being offered. You would much rather ask for a very small serving than refuse all together.

Also remember that a big population of Kenyans are not rich, so they are offering to share the little they have with you, because you are a guest. In Kenya we say “Mgeni ni Baraka” (A visitor is a blessing).

I for instance have mastered the art of saying “I have just eaten” whenever I do not want to eat in someone’s house, with a promise of eating the next time. It saves you a lot of explaining and your host would understand this more than an outright NO.

Photo by CultureTrip

6. Know when to bargain

In my article on “A visit to the Maasai Market“, I encouraged you to bargain when you are shopping in Nairobi for souvenirs to take back to your country. But you need to know your limits.

While many local traders overcharge tourists, (whether a “mzungu” (white person) or anyone with a foreign accent), some are actually selling their items for what they are worth.

This is especially true for hand made items like home decor and sculptures. So if you bargain too much, you will be perceived as being rude and lacking respect for the hard work put into whatever item you are looking to buy.

It is worse if you are shopping with a local because then the traders assume your local friend is colluding with a foreigner to hurt their “Biashara” (business). So go ahead and bargain but do not overdo it.

Check out our article on 10 Best Places to Shop in Nairobi as you plan your trip.

Photo by How We Made It In Africa

7. Mobile Money is a winner

Mobile banking is the way of life in Kenya, and in some other African countries. People use their mobile phones to send each other money, to shop, to pay for their bills including rent, water, electricity, etc., to bank and also to borrow money from banks. So our mobile phones are everything. You simply need to have a sim card, register with the telecommunication company of your choice, and voila!

It is for this reason therefore that most Kenyans do not walk around with cash. Of course security is another reason, but mobile money has made life so easy for many people, there is really no need to carry cash.

So if you are visiting for a longer period, make an effort to register for mobile money and save some of your money on phone to stay safe. You can always withdraw whatever is left when you are leaving and take it with you.

Photo by Pulselive Kenya

8. Politics is a big deal

Kenyans love to talk about politics and what is happening in the country at any one time. There is always something happening. So it would be important to know a few details about the politics of the day, the key players, and what they’ve been up to.

As a tourist, you will always meet someone who wants to talk to you about politics or the current affairs in the country. Don’t worry if you do not know anything, just ask questions you feel are relevant.

It would also not hurt to know what is trending in the country as Kenyans thrive on such topics. These include which politician has been arrested, why, which athlete just won another world record, who stole what, and the likes.

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9. Religion is also a big deal

Religion is also integrated into many Kenyans life styles. A majority of the country’s population are Christians, with the rest being Muslims and other religions. It is no wonder that the All Saints Cathedral and the Jamia Mosque, two of the biggest churches and mosques in the country (in that order) form part of the “Top 10 Nairobi Landmarks and how to see them” article.

Saturdays and Sundays are always set aside for Christians who flock churches while Muslims observe their prayer times in different mosques all through the week, as with all the other religions.

Everyone from the head of State to government officials to children take their religion seriously.

Photo by Public Radio International

10. Security checks are everywhere

For quite some time now, Kenya has had a continual threat of random incidences of terrorism which have created fear among the locals and those visiting the country.

A number of incidents have taken place in the capital city Nairobi and parts of the Kenyan coast. These include the terror attack at the Westgate Shopping mall in 2013, and another at the Riverside Park business, both in the Westlands part of Nairobi.

These and other incidents have therefore necessitated the need to have security checks everywhere especially in major cities. You are very likely to be frisked when entering any building in the city, so do not be alarmed or complain too much. It is for your own security, and many Kenyans understand this.

Photo by Grandpspeaksblog

Bonus: Respect for elders

This is not just a bonus point, but one that I feel is important to mention especially if you are a tourist that is planning to venture into the villages or remote areas on the country, as this is where a big number of the older generations reside.

You see, respect is a very important aspect of not just the Kenyan culture, but also the African culture. We are all expected to respect those that are older than us.

Respect can be shown in many forms, including a young child not sitting with older people whenever they have gathered for a meeting, standing up for an elderly person in a public transport vehicle, and holding one’s hand with the other hand when greeting an older person, among others.

So be aware of how you interact with those you visit, and show respect accordingly.

So there you go! The 10 things you should know about Kenyan culture. Come prepared to mingle and have a lot of fun. We are a pretty cool group of people to interact with, and I promise that you will love your stay here, as long as you respect our culture. You can also learn much more about how we do what we do when you get here, so “Karibu sana”!