Kenya Details

Here are some useful words and phrases to practice before your trip. Swahili is an easy language to learn, so have fun with it. The local Kenyans will be impressed with your efforts!

Hujambo/jambo/salama – Hello
Karibu – Welcome
Habari Yako – Hello (Use when greeting an elderly person).
Sasa – Hello in Nairobi Sheng, a special Swahili dialect that’s a mix between Swahili and English that’s used in Nairobi.

Habari Gani – How are you?
Jambo, habari? – Hello, how are you?
Nzuri – I’m fine

Jina lako nani? – What is your name?
Jina langu ni – My name is…
Nafurahi kukuona -Nice to meet you
Kwa heri – Goodbye (or kwa herini if it’s more than one person)
Tutaonana – See you later 
Lala salama – Good night
Safari njema – Safe journey

Ndiyo – Yes
Hapana – No
Tafadhali – Please
Asante – Thank you
Asante sana – Thank you very much
Hapana asante sana – No, thank you very much
Starehe – You’re welcome
Sawa – Okay
Samahani – Excuse me
Pole or pole sana – Sorry
Rafiki – Friend
Sielewi – I don’t understand
Pole pole – Take it easy (Kenyans don’t like to rush so you’ll likely hear this one a lot.)

Kenya Cultural Tips

Kenya is a welcoming place filled with vibrant culture. Kenyans are lighthearted and casual. Laughter is around every corner. Connect better with locals using these cultural tips.

HOW DO YOU SAY HELLO IN KENYA?

A handshake is the most common form of greeting. It is more polite and a sign of respect if you make the handshake firm.  “Jambo?” or “Habari” (“How are you?) is usually said immediately prior to a handshake. After a handshake, it is common to have some form of small talk where general questions about the other person are asked such as ‘How is your work?’ ‘How is your home?’ ‘How is your family?’ and is often injected with good doses of humour and laughter, in non-confrontational and polite manner. Do not be surprised to see people take time out at work to talk and catch up, as if time was timeless in itself.

Handshakes are required, regardless of how many people you are greeting. For example, if you enter a room with 30 people gathered for a meeting, it is usually expected that you will take the time to greet each individual with a handshake. Always greet the oldest person first, and then proceed to the rest of the people finishing with the youngest, children. To skip or rush this element in the greeting process is the height of poor manners.

If you are greeting someone whose hands are not clean they might politely choose to extend their arm and expect you to greet/grasp their arm at elbow level instead, rather than their hand.

Kenyans may also be addressed as mother of so and so, or father of so and so. For instance, the mother and father of Mary may be referred to as ‘Mama Mary’ and ‘Baba Mary’. Referring to your friends’ parents in such a manner is also respectful.

COMMUNICATION STYLE

Communication style in Kenya is not normally frank and direct. Many Kenyans use indirect ways of communication in order to make a point in an attempt not to cause problems. Blunt statements are not normally used. It is up to you to read between the lines and decipher what may be really being said. With this in mind, criticism should be delivered in private and given in a circumspect manner.

WHAT IS PERSONAL SPACE LIKE IN KENYA?

Conversation generally takes place at arm’s length after shaking hands.  However, it is common to see men who know each other well, walking and talking whilst remaining hand in hand.  This is accepted and in no way seen as strange behaviour. It is less common to see men and women/couples hand in hand or displaying any affection in public. Kenya is an extremely open and friendly society, so if you know someone well, touching a shoulder or arm in conversation is common, as is plenty of laughter. There has been social distancing during Covid and little direct contact.

HOW DO KENYANS VIEW TIME?

‘Kenyan Time’ is known to be flexible in that services may be delayed and time may not always be kept.  However, one is expected to turn up for meetings on time, and an apology and explanation is expected. Heavy rain can slow things down to a standstill, such as public transportation, consequently traffic. For Kenyans, ‘Kenyan time’ is generally taken this in good faith, accepting delays as just part of life and beyond their control.

WHAT LANGUAGE DO PEOPLE SPEAK IN KENYA?

Whilst Swahili (or Kiswahili) is the national language of Kenya, English is widely spoken as the formal and international language. However, as you move into the rural areas, the common language is Swahili or the mother tongue – tribe common in the area. Each province has a tribe or tribes that are common to the area. Swahili is however common to all Kenyans and English is commonly spoken in the cities and urban areas.

Sheng is a commonly spoken slang in Kenya's capital, and other urban cities in the country. It is a mixture of Swahili and English, with a sprinkling of other indigenous languages. In fact, Sheng is more than just slang - it's a lifestyle, especially among the urban youth who, today, are more fluent in Sheng than in the purer forms of Kiswahili.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE IN KENYA?

We will be eating most of our meals through our accommodations and lodges. You will have access to fresh, healthy local food throughout your tour. You will have options at most meals, but the options will be limited. We will not be in the personal homes of locals on this tour, but the information below is for you to understand more about the context of food in Kenya.

With all situations that involve food you must always keep in mind that you are in a part of the world where attitudes to food can be drastically different to those in your home country. In the West, we may be used to the concept of food as being taken for granted and even indeed viewed as something of a "leisure pursuit" where we may expect a wide variety of choices where we "take what we fancy" or eat mainly for fun. In large parts of the developing world, the primary focus of many people's difficult working life may be purely to provide sufficient food, of any kind, to keep them and their family alive. In this context, you will understand that it will be grossly inappropriate and unacceptable for you to waste food or to refuse or complain about it just because it is not exactly what you want.

Kenyan traditional cuisine is rich in ethnic diversity. Popular staple foods include Ugali, rice, bread, chapatti beef, chicken, goat, tilapia and an assortment of fresh vegetables and fruits. In times of celebration and on special occasions such as Christmas and wedding ceremonies, it is customary for Kenyans to kill and roast a goat, cow or chicken. 

Tea is a common beverage in Kenya and regularly taken especially at 10am and 4pm. In most homes, it is taken also after the evening meal. The tea is normally sweet and milky.

WHAT ARE THE FAMILY ROLES IN KENYA?

Kenyans also place great importance on family. They place great emphasis and honor collective responsibilities and traditional values, which include treating the elderly with respect and reverence. Quite often it is common for people to live with their relatives and share their belongings. Many families also live with and care for their aged parents. 

As you might expect in a group-orientated culture, the upbringing of a child is the responsibility of the entire family and the extended family as well. This could be in assisting the child education wise, marriage wise and with many other needs that rise within a family setting.  In more rural settings, a child may not only be punished by his parents if disobedient, but the elderly in society or relatives can also ‘discipline’ the child.

Neighborliness is common, and the neighbors often spend time in each other’s homes. A neighbor may also borrow certain things such as sugar, matchsticks, or anything that they may need urgently, and are not able to get immediately.

CAN YOU BARGAIN IN KENYA?

Bargaining in Kenya when trading is always carried out in good humor and is less an art than a necessity. Open markets are common places where bargaining is common. The seller will give you the highest price and you are expected to bargain, which may take a long time, depending on the price that you are expecting. Business is business, and when the final price is reached, Kenyans will forget all ill will. It just takes persistence and a sense of humor. Negotiating is not common in the up market in-door shops and stores in the city.

Hawking is also common in the streets and even sometimes in public means of transport such as buses. You may feel free to buy what you fancy from them. However, if inundated by hawkers and you are not interested a polite ‘No thank you’ or ‘Kesho’ (maybe tomorrow) is often the most effective way of dealing with the situation.

LAW AND ORDER IN KENYA

The Kenyan legal system regards the adult age as 18, making the drinking age 18. There are hundreds of petty offenses, such as talking on a mobile phone whilst driving, not using seatbelts while on the road.  Fines are charged for such offense of which the real penalty you will pay for this is your time. This is because you will spend a long time in court and pay a very small fine – the real penalty is the time-wasting element in court. 

Stealing is heavily enforced through ‘mob justice’, especially in rural areas.  Anyone even suspected or accused of stealing – even a cell phone – is likely to be severely beaten, at times to death, by a nearby crowd. 

HOW DO PEOPLE DRESS IN KENYA?

Kenyans tend to dress in a conservative manner with an emphasis on appearing smart and well dressed as a matter of pride.  To look sloppy or wear revealing or damaged clothes would mean that a foreigner would instantly lose a degree of respect amongst Kenyans.

For general guidance you should keep your upper arms to the elbow and upper legs to the knee covered. In addition, tops should not finish above the waistline of your trousers and expose your midriff and your neckline should not extend down more than a few inches.

WHAT IS THE RELIGION IN KENYA?

More than half the population in Kenya consists of Christians, 10% Muslims, and 10% Indigenous beliefs. Whilst a majority of the Kenyans are followers of the Christian faith, Islam is the main religion for those communities living along the coast and Somali community. The Asian community is mainly Hindu, while others observe the traditional methods of worship.

Religion is important in Kenya culture. Gospel music is popular and especially in cities you’ll often see street preachers, who offer religion as a solution to the many social ills in Kenya.

WHAT IS THE KENYAN LIFESTYLE LIKE?

Within Africa, Kenyans enjoy a reputation as hard workers and at 7 o’clock the streets are crowded. However, Kenyans take it easy and have a casual approach “Hakuna Matata” to time which is common especially at the coast.

Kenyans like to laugh and quickly offer a smile to people. The British influence is still visible in their politeness, and also in the outer appearance of streets and buildings, signs etc. which look a bit like Britain in the 1960s. A Kenyan will take the time for you if you ask him something.

If there is just anything unusual, a crowd will assemble within a minute around you and everybody will offer his opinion on what’s going on. Even foreigners are quickly invited to participate in whatever’s going on.

Kenyans often use proverbs and sayings to comment on things. They are typically comparisons drawn from everyday life, and show some very down to earth, good humored wisdom.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN KENYA

Kenya, like most nations, struggles with several environmental issues. The major issues in Kenya are deforestation, desertification, water shortages, poaching, pollution and degraded water quality. As a visitor to this beautiful land, it is important to remember to minimize our impact on the environment. Always pack out trash and avoid using disposable plastic water bottles. Bring a reusable shopping bag with you if you plan on doing any shopping, this stops the use of plastic bags while in the country. Every little bit helps to minimize impact on the environment.

Kenya’s widespread poverty has led many to turn towards poaching. Poaching is highly illegal in Kenya and care should be taken when purchasing any animal products. It is best to avoid such purchases while in the country.

Overall, the above culture tips are shared to help you understand more about the local communities you will be visiting and how to respect and honor their traditions and culture during your visit.

(some of the above tips were taken from Adventure Alternative)

There are so many great films and books based on Kenya, so we hope you have a chance to watch or read some of them. If you have a recommendation, please be sure to let us know!

BOOKS: Here is a link to 10 recommended Books to read before you go to Kenya from Culture Trip:

BOOKS

FILMS: Here is a link to some great films set in Kenya:

FILMS