Culture & Traditions

Named after towering Mount Kenya, the second-highest peak in Africa, the Republic of Kenya on the coast of East Africa has been a global trading hub since at least the second century, when maritime centres such as Mombasa began dealing with foreign powers as far away as China. By around the ninth century, the mix of Africans, Arabs, and Persians who lived and worked there became known as Swahili (“people of the coast”) with a distinct language (Kiswahili) and culture of their own. In the 1490s, the Portuguese began using Mombasa as a base, beginning a wave of periodic control by various European nations, including Germany and Britain. Following the Mau Mau Uprising of the 1950s, the country declared its independence from the United Kingdom, setting the stage for the modern nation and regional economic powerhouse that Kenya is today. 

Of the country’s dozens of tribal and ethnic groups, the Kikuyu are the largest. Other groups include the Luhya, the Kalenjin, the Luo, the Meru, and the Maasai. The heterogeneity of Kenya’s people is matched by the diversity of its geography, which includes low plains along the Indian Ocean, central highlands that are bisected by the Great Rift Valley, fertile plateaus around Lake Victoria, and even glaciers atop Mount Kenya. The Kenyan Highlands are one of the most successful food-producing regions in Africa, making agriculture a top contributor to Kenya’s GDP (major crops include coffee, tea, corn, and wheat). The country has also dedicated considerable swathes of its land mass (about eight percent of the total) to wildlife habitats, reflecting the value that Kenyans place on environmental stewardship and on the tourism these protected areas attract.

What is the visiting etiquette in Kenya?

Visitors to Kenya should exercise common sense and discretion when it comes to dress and behaviour, particularly in the coast region, where the majority of the population is Muslim.

To avoid offending local sensitivities, all genders are advised to dress conservatively, behave discreetly, and respect religious and social traditions. Those travelling to Kenya to go on a safari should also be aware of the risks and responsibilities that come with viewing animals in the wild, particularly on foot or at close range. Among other precautions, always maintain a safe and respectful distance when observing wildlife, use only reputable and professional guides or tour operators when planning a viewing excursion, and closely follow game park regulations and the advice of wardens at all times.

What is Kenya best known for?

Kenya is synonymous with the African safari, having hosted its first wildlife viewing treks as far back as the turn of the 20th century (among its nicknames is “the land of the original safari”). A pioneer in the field of wildlife conservation, the country is also home to some of the most famous national game reserves on the continent, including Nairobi National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, and Amboseli National Park. It is here that safari-goers may see the so-called Big Five of the wild (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and water buffalo) and/or Big Nine (adding cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, and zebras). The Masai Mara is also well known for the Great Migration of wildebeest through its territory, considered one of the wonders of the natural world.

In addition to copious wildlife, Kenya boasts a cosmopolitan capital (Nairobi), beautiful beaches along the Indian Ocean coast (as at Lamu Island), coffee and tea plantations (at Thika and Kericho respectively), and breathtaking scenery (snow-capped Mount Kenya and the Great Rift Valley being just two examples). 

What are some Kenyan traditions?

Each of Kenya’s more than 40 tribes and ethnic groups has its own defining customs and traditions, some of which are similar in nature while others are unique. Although most tribes are patriarchal, for instance, only Maasai males demonstrate their prowess by showing off how high they can jump up from a standing position. The Maasai and the Samburu are also among the few Kenyan groups that still wear traditional garb such as shukas (colourful shawls made of handwoven cotton or wool) and equally vibrant beaded jewellery, although the latter is working its way more and more into modern urban dress.

One of the commonalities across Kenyan ethnicities is a communal spirit, with extended families forming the basic social unit. A visit to a Kenyan home, consequently, is likely to involve meeting the host’s aunties, uncles, grandparents, and cousins as well as partner and kids. If you do get invited to a private residence, don’t show up empty-handed, which is considered extremely rude. The gift doesn’t have to be expensive—just considerate—with sweets, fruits or flowers sufficing (in rural areas, gifts of sugar or tea are common).

In the process of buying that gift, don’t be shy about haggling over the price, especially outside of Nairobi. Bargaining is heavily ingrained in Kenyan culture and therefore widely expected. Just don’t point at anyone with your index finger (considered impolite) or pick up or pass anything with your left hand (equally verboten).

What are Kenyan people like socially?

Kenyan people are exceedingly friendly—when they meet, they shake hands, hug and stand close to each other. Greetings, in fact, are de rigueur in the country—at the very least, a handshake is expected in almost every situation, from meeting a stranger to greeting an old friend. After the handshake, it’s customary to ask questions about the person’s health, family, business or other affairs. To skip or rush this part of the greeting process is the height of poor manners. 

In general, strangers and elders are addressed by their academic, professional or honorific title followed by their surname. Once a personal relationship has been established, you may be able to address someone by their title and first name, first name alone or nickname (wait for the Kenyan to provide the cue). Women over the age of 21 are often addressed as “Mama” and men over the age of 35 are frequently called “Mzee.” Children generally refer to adults as Aunt or Uncle even if they aren’t related.

As such easy intimacy suggests, privacy can be elusive in Kenya. Indeed, it’s considered rude to stand away from others or avoid eye contact. Disagreement with others (especially elders) is seen as a sign of disrespect. It is also considered ill-mannered to shout or to speak in a loud voice.

What language do Kenyan people speak?

Kenya’s official languages are Kiswahili and English, but at least 60 languages are spoken in the country. These are mainly tribal African languages from three different language families: Bantu languages (spoken in the centre and southeast), Nilotic languages (in the west), and Cushitic languages (in the northeast).