KENYA

By: Allison Kight

Capital City and Flag

Capital City:
Nairobi

Primary Language and Religion

Language: Kenya's official languages are English and Swahili; both are
widely used for communication between members of different ethnic groups.
Many Kenyans thus speak three languages: the language of their particular
ethnic group, Swahili, and English.
Religion: About 76% of Kenya's population is Christian, with Protestants
outnumbering Roman Catholics. 7% of the population are Muslims. The rest of
Kenya's people are mainly followers of traditional African religions. There are
also a small number of Hindus and Sikhs.

Tourist Attraction in Kenya

Safari through Kenya on an African adventure tour: The African Safari the most popular
tourist attraction of all the things you can do in Kenya. Immerse yourself in the animal
kingdom at the finest game parks on this amazing Kenya safari tour. Staying in the
world-famous Masai Mara, experience superb wildlife viewing like, elephants, hippos,
cheetahs, leopards, flamingos and lions, as well as the fascinating culture of the
Maasai tribespeople.

Second Tourist Attraction

The Great Rift Valley: The Great Rift Valley is part of an intra-continental ridge system
that runs through Kenya from north to south. The country also has a bountiful system
of lakes and rivers. Kenya has the second largest fresh water lake in the world in Lake
Victoria. The Great Rift Valley also has exceptional wildlife to see.

National Cuisine

Ugali: the staple and most common food in Kenya is a cornmeal starch made into a thick
paste known as Ugali. It is heavy and hearty and goes down well with fried vegetables or
any kind of meat stew.

Sukuma Wiki: Along with Ugali, Sukuma wiki (known as collard greens in English) is a
staple vegetable in the Kenyan diet. It is normally sliced very thin, and fried in oil, along
with onions and tomatoes. Many Kenyans eat Ugali and Sukuma wiki as a standard meal.

Stereotypes

Its a common stereotype that all black Africans essentially look like West Africans, with
none of the variety in phenotypes found in Europe or Asia. This stereotype is especially
common in the US, because its assumed that all Africans look like African Americans,
who are mostly descended from West Africans. As a result, East and Northeast African
phenotypes in particular are extremely rare in depictions of black Africans

Superstitions

If your dogs starts howling outside your house, something bad is bound to happen to
you.
If you trip over a stone, someone is gossiping about you.
An itchy right palm means that you will receive money. An itchy left palm means you
will have to give money.

Hand Gestures used in Kenya

Male visitors may need to get used to holding hands with strangers as theyre shown
around the guesthouse, or guided down the street, and, on public transport, to
strangers hands and limbs draped naturally wherever is most comfortable, which can
include your legs or shoulders.
Its good to be aware of the left-hand rule: traditionally the left hand is reserved for
unhygienic acts and the right for eating and touching, or passing things to others. Like
many rules its very often broken, at which times you have to avoid thinking about it.
Unless youre looking for a confrontation, never point with your finger, which is
equivalent to an obscene gesture. For similar reasons, beckoning is done with the palm
down, not up, which if youre not familiar with the action can inadvertently convey a
dismissive gesture.

Business Cultureetiquette and body language

Kenya: Handshakes are the most common greeting in business. When being introduced to
someone for the first time, the handshake is short, while handshakes among people with a
personal relationship are longer. It is a sign of respect to lower your eyes when greeting
someone of a higher status or someone who is obviously older than you. Men should wait
for a woman to extend her and first. To rush a greeting is extremely rude. Take the time to
inquire about the other persons general well-being, family, and business in general. Titles
are important. Use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the
surname. Wait to be invited before moving to a first name basis. Business cards are
exchanged without formal ritual. Present and receive business cards with two hands.
USA: The hand shake is the common greeting. Handshakes are firm, brief and confident.
Maintain eye contact during the greeting. In most situations, you can begin calling people
by their first names. Most people will insist that you call them by their nickname, if they
have one. In formal circumstances, you may want to use titles and surnames as a courtesy
until you are invited to move to a first name basis, which will happen quickly. Business
cards are exchanged without formal ritual. It is quite common for the recipient to put your
card in their wallet, which may then go in the back pocket of their trousers. This is not an
insult.

Business Culturecommunication styles

Kenya: Direct and frank communication is not the norm in Kenya. Kenyans will always
attempt to qualify what they say so that the message is delivered in a sensitive way.
This comes down to wanting to protect peoples face and the relationship. In their
attempt not to cause problems, Kenyans often use metaphors, analogies and stories to
make a point. They are uncomfortable with blunt statements, with this in mind,
criticism should be delivered in private and given in a circumspect manner. Kenyans
may gesture for emphasis when speaking. Loud voices are generally only used during
disagreements in business situations
USA: Americans are direct. They value logic and linear thinking and expect people to
speak clearly and in a straightforward manner. To them if you dont tell it how it is you
simply waste time, and time is money. If you are from a culture that is more subtle in
communication style, try not to be insulted by the directness. Try to get to your point
more quickly and dont be afraid to be more direct and honest than you are used to.
Americans will use the telephone to conduct business that would require a face-to-face
meeting in most other countries. They do not insist upon seeing or getting to know the
people with whom they do business.

Works Cited

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"BEST THINGS TO DO IN KENYA: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS." WanderingTrader. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

"Commisceo Global - Leaders in Cross-Cultural Training." Cross Cultural Business Training & Cultural Awareness Courses. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

"Culture and Etiquette | About Kenya." Rough Guides. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

Fisher-greene, Sebastian, and Rhian Nicholson. "Kenya Wildlife Safari | Safari through Kenya on an African Adventure Tour." Intrepid Travel. N.p.,
2016. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

"Kenya: Superstitions." Kenya: Superstitions. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

"Nairobi." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.

"The People of Kenya, Language and Religion." Language and Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.