Kenyan Cultural Practices You Should Keep in Mind When Visiting.

Kenya is a country of cultural diversity. It is not just about the over forty-four tribes but also the over seventy-three different languages and cultural practices.  In addition to the tribal cultures, we are tolerant and easy to adopt bits and pieces from other parts of Africa and the rest of the world.

Here are some cultural practices you should keep in mind so that your stay will be fluid as long as you visit.

1. Fashion Culture

Kenyans are very fashionable people. You will realize that we allow an assortment of fashions and deliberately let people walk around in what they are comfortable in.

You won’t find such freedom in some African Countries. Rwanda is one of them. Indecent exposure in Rwanda might lead to deportation or penalties by law.

We pride ourselves in the tribal attires that guests find attractive. The colorful checked Maasai shuka is one of them. Throwing one around your shoulder on a chilly morning or evening or setting it as picnic clothes will add color to your tour.

Kitenge is somewhat the Kenyan Ankara. Donning a kitenge dress or shirt with some dashes of the denim will make you stand out and very fashionable. There are kitenge handbags, and backpacks for your safaris, and you can carry some fabric home for your interior decor.

Kenyans value decency. Though no one will harass you for wearing shorts on the streets of Nairobi, you might want to cover up a little in remote places. Don’t expose too much of your skin to the sun. you want a tan not to be roasted.

We make beautiful jewelry mainly from pearls and beads. Show your love for Kenya by throwing a tribal necklace around your neck or a bracelet. Anklets are fancier, in my opinion.

2. Food Culture

Food is an essential piece of culture in Kenya. Kenyans don’t eat anything anywhere. Some cuisines are reserved for special occasions. Pilau for instance is a mark of a great wedding. Nyama Choma crowns festivals.

In some communities, different animals are slaughtered for different occasions. Goats are for happy ceremonies. A cow can go down at a funeral. Sheep is served on rare occasions in isolated tribes. Chicken is the most common fun delicacy. Kenyan chicken, Kienyeji, is the sweetest.

I love Swahili cuisine. The spice and the detail in preparing make my taste buds dance. However, there are other cuisines that will leave you yearning for more. Lake Victoria Tilapia is one of a kind, served with fries or Ugali. Have you eaten cow feet yet? Visit Western Kenya. They dance in your mouth, all the way to your tummy.

Mount Kenya will drown you in Soup. Talk of Irish potatoes, peas, carrots, tomatoes, and onions all in one pot. With plenty of water. But they have their specialty, Mokimo, a vegetable pounding that you will find intriguing. If you are vegetarian, you will definitely enjoy this. Mokimo goes well with stewed liver and it is commonly served in Kikuyu Weddings.

Kenyan streets have a very rich food culture including street food. You will come across Samosas, sausages, barbecued staffed cow intestines, fries, and roast ground nuts. If you have a sensitive stomach, you might want to skip this. Roast corn is my favorite on the streets.

3. Common Language.

English, French, German, and Chinese are spoken as second languages by most Kenyans. You will find a few who can speak Spanish or any other language. Kiswahili is the main language of communication. Here are a few words in Kiswahili that will help you maneuver around the towns

In towns, you will encounter a lot of sheng as well. This is a mixture of English and Kiswahili. You will hear words like Ngori – Trouble, Niaje– How are you, Gota– hit it, buda– man, muthama –woman, and mrembo –dame.

You don’t need to know this language to survive. Your tour agent will definitely hook you up with a guide who can easily translate for you. It is fun to throw in a word here and there to break the ice and make the moment fun. Kenyans are very interactive.

When touring the villages, you will realize that most people use their mother tongue. Don’t fret, Kenyans mind their business and if you need them in your business, they will quickly switch to English to accommodate you. This leads me to the next cultural practice that is closely linked to language and food.

4. Social Culture

Kenyans are naturally social people. We are the kind that says hi to total strangers and holds conversations about the weather and economy. Kenyans are small talkers in other words. Expect to be engaged with questions about obvious things to keep the conversations going.

Socially, we are a communal country. People operate in cocoons. Family is important and it goes all the way to the clan, then the tribe, and spills over to being Kenyan. You have heard of Kenyans’ unity during joyful events like sports and transferring the same to difficult moments.

This hospitable nature trickles down even to our guests. Kenyans, from time memorial, are known to treat guests with love and dotting attention. Enjoy it when you arrive. It is in our nature and we cannot help it being nice.

5. Family Set Up

Once in a while, you will want to experience what it is like to be a part of a family in Kenya even for a few days, right?

Most families are nuclear, with a father, and a mother with three or so children. The father is the head of the family. You will find that there are special chairs, cups, plates, etc for the father. You might want to ask before sitting or using. Also, you can wait for your host to direct you.

The most intriguing families are the polygamous families. In tribal villages, you will encounter this. You will be surprised how co-wives work together in harmony for the good of their husband and children.

You might not tell which child belongs to which wife. This is the beauty of polygamy, especially when guests are around.

There are modern blended families as well. As a country, as I mentioned earlier, we are diverse. What doesn’t threaten the peace, survives. You can be sure to find the exact thing you are looking for if you discuss it with your travel agent. Come Travel Kenya always got you.

6. Street Culture

Kenyan streets by night are quite episodes. We are fun-loving people. Since this is not yet a 24-hour economy, the fun starts in the evening after long hours of work during the day. Walk down the streets of Nairobi and pop into a club, and dance your worries away.

However, you need to be very careful. Kenyan streets are dangerous sometimes. Don’t floss your expensive jewelry or carry a lot of cash. Clubbing won’t cost you more than $100 a night.

Unless you are at the high-end places in the country, these other places require smartness to survive. That is the thrill of it all – possible danger mixed with fun, right?

You ought to be smart when buying things on the Kenyan streets as well. Don’t always take the first price. Bargain for a better deal. Sometimes vendors just want to know how well you can negotiate.

Remember the Kiswahili and sheng words, they can come in handy when used relevantly to mellow the hearts of vendors for your own good. Throw in a gota with an extended fist and ask how much a Maasai club costs afterward.

In conclusion, Kenyans are very easy and sociable people. If you are looking for a place to feel human again, a place to experience diversity, and a place to feel a people connection then Kenya is your next stop. Share on your social media handles to let others know.

WRITER:  Emily Wekulo