Features of business etiquette in Kenya

Kenya is a magnificent African country with extensive national nature reserves, amazing scenery, beautiful beaches and friendly people. Kenyans are very proud of their country and are famous for their hospitality and kindness.

If you are going to start a business in Kenya, you should familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of the etiquette of this country so that business meetings and business negotiations take place at the proper level.

Greeting

The traditional form of greeting is the handshake, the length of which varies depending on how well the speakers know each other. At the same time, they ask each other questions about health, family, etc. The greeting ritual as a whole goes slowly.

At the beginning of the meeting, it is important to shake hands with everyone present without missing anyone. The latter is considered rude behavior. So, if there are 10 people in the room, you, as a guest, should shake hands and greet each of them.

It is customary to shake hands among both men and women. However, this does not always happen between the sexes. A man needs to wait for the initiative from a woman before reaching out to her for a greeting.

When greeting older people, it is important to show the most respectful attitude towards them. Direct (and especially prolonged) eye contact should be avoided, it is better to look down. As a sign of respect, it is customary to place the left hand on the wrist of the right hand of the person being greeted during a handshake.

Men, if they have known each other for a long time, can hug each other. Women greet each other with a handshake, however, being on friendly terms, they can exchange light kisses on the cheek.

Performance

All possible regalia that distinguish a person are of great importance in the business practice of Kenya, especially those that indicate his status in an organization or in society. Hierarchy is respected in Kenya.

In situations of official, formal and business communication, when applying, use the positions, degrees or titles of the partner, if any. You can only address him by name if you have permission to do so.

With special respect should be treated to persons older in age and position. However, a person who is lower in the hierarchical system, but older in age, should be addressed by last name, while naming his official or qualification distinctions.

If you do not know the professional qualifications, position, title or title of the partner (or simply do not exist), use polite forms of address, namely: Mr, Ms, Mrs, Miss, followed by the person's last name.

Follow the example of your Kenyan colleagues in terms of the use of names and titles. Keep the level of formality appropriate to the situation.

If you have a meeting with government officials, find out in advance how to contact him. In this case, you should be polite and show the most respectful attitude.

Exchange business cards

In business practice in Kenya, business cards are of great importance, they are usually exchanged either at the beginning of the first meeting or at the end of it. There is no specific time for this.

Professional qualifications, job positions, as well as academic degrees of the owner are indicated on his business card. The usual is contact information, including phone numbers, website, email address.

Most often, business cards are made in English and do not always contain a translation into Swahili (the second official language of the state after English).

Remember that when giving a business card to a partner, it is important to hold it with both hands, also  — two hands — you should accept his business card.

Small talk: big picture

When taking the first steps towards a joint project, Kenyans try to get to know a potential partner better, since establishing relationships is at the heart of any business. In small talk, especially at the beginning of communication, choose positive or neutral topics.

It is useful to observe how people communicate in the Kenyan business environment, how the conversation is built. Later, as you gain experience, you will be able to manage the process of communication with partners. In those situations where you are the inviter and therefore the host of the event, you will have to take the lead in the conversation.

Despite the fact that English is the main language of communication in business, you should not rely on the fact that everyone (including your partner) is equally fluent in it. If necessary, repeat the ideas and judgments expressed earlier, with the help of additional questions, check how accurately you have been understood.

During the conversation, try not to ask general questions that require a yes answer; or (especially) "no", especially if your question can be interpreted as a request. It is better to use so-called open-ended questions (for example, "How do you plan to conduct this meeting?" or "What do you think about this?"), which will allow the interlocutor to choose the most tactful expressions.

Kenyans are quite expressive in speech, especially compared to Europeans. This, however, does not mean that they will behave aggressively, strongly expressing their opinion or ardently defending their point of view. Respectful tone is welcomed in communication.

Preferred topics

Economy and politics. In Kenya, they like to discuss various economic and political topics that are important for the state, for example, related to the possibilities of its further growth. It is advisable to support such a conversation, having previously read the latest news in the local press.

Family. Kenyans are quite open about their family, especially when it comes to the success of their children and nephews (nieces). They may even share with you the various challenges their children face in school. Such frankness is possible, however, only after certain relationships have already been established.

Sport. Most men and even some women in Kenya love football. This theme is really safe. Other popular sports are rugby, cricket (more popular with Asian Kenyans), long distance running.

Taboo topics

Ethnic issues should not be brought up in small talk, even if you already know your Kenyan partner.

The issue of belonging to one group or another is quite painful and will be very poorly received, especially in Nairobi, where there is a lot of intermarriage.

Corruption is one of the topics that should definitely be avoided in a conversation, since you can encounter a wide variety of opinions on this issue, which will not help create a positive atmosphere.

Comfortable communication distance

Keep in mind that Kenyans have less comfortable communication distance than other cultures, such as Northern Europe or North America. Do not take a step back to stand further from the interlocutor, this can be perceived as unfriendly behavior.

Physical touching is kept to a minimum and is usually only possible between people who know each other well. Such touches include pats on the shoulder or back, which are well received in this society.

Features of communication

In the process of communication, Kenyans are not only interested in words and expressions that carry a certain meaning. They proceed from the fact that part of the information remains unspoken or unsaid, since it either follows from the situation itself, or is understood without words by all participants in the communication, because it is contained in the culture itself.

Sometimes non-verbal signals carry much more information than the actual explicit, verbal part of speech. Foreign partners in case of any misunderstanding or ambiguous interpretation of a particular statement should contact their colleague in Kenya for additional clarification.

In general, the style of communication in business practice in Kenya can be described as polite and rather formal.

Formal behavior is maintained not only between managers and subordinates, but also between managers and business partners who have the same status. Formality in communication strengthens the hierarchical relationship between people, the boundaries between which should not be violated.

Over time, a certain element of informality can develop in a relationship, especially outside of work situations. However, it is important to always keep in mind that an informal, more personal approach can be associated with a weak leader, unable to make authoritative decisions.

Kenyans are notable for their indirect way of speaking, especially when discussing problems or difficult situations. In response to an unpleasant and especially sensitive question, they are likely to give a not very clear evasive answer or prefer to involve some third party in the conversation in order to avoid open confrontation.

Your Kenyan partner will feel uncomfortable if they have to give a negative assessment of something, or just say "no" to you. Most likely, he will say “yes” to you, in fact, he means refusal. For example, he may agree to changes in the plan by nodding his head, without being convinced of the need for these changes.