Nigerian Woman Details The Interesting Things She Noticed About Kenya

 Blog Visitor Veronica (BV Ron) is currently in Kenyan on Official duties and she delights us in this post with the things she noted there.....

This is a beautiful comparison between Nigeria and Kenya....

Veronica says ''These are the Things I’ve Noticed About Kenya (That I Can’t Unsee) ''

1. Madaraka Day is their version of soft freedom. June 1, 1963 was when Kenya finally told the British “we’ll take it from here”... kind of. They got internal self-rule, but the Queen was still technically their boss till the following year. So yesterday being 1st of June was a public holiday and it extends till today.

2. They might be free from British rule but they are still very British. Kenyans still drive on the right, their car number plates look like something straight out of Birmingham, and they don't joke with tea. It’s a sacred ritual 


3. Very chill. Very unreadable. Kenyans won’t tell you what they’re thinking. You have to decode it. No vibes, no tension. just silence and polite laughter. Meanwhile, Nigerians? We’ll tell you on the spot if we like you or not. No guesswork, just vibes and loud volume ...

 Last night when we went out, my colleague and I were asked to order what we wanted to eat. Na so we sey make Dem bring Chicken. Thinking it was for us only, we ate about 2 pieces each and innocently asked the waiter to pack the rest. As we were going home, na so gist start inside car. Dem sey we dey stingy, sey we no offer Dem chicken, sey d chicken was meant for everyone and they'd washed their hands waiting to be called to come and eat  See me see wahala. So u wan chop chicken yet you no chop cos we no call u to come chop? Wow!

4. “Ama?” is the Kenyan “abi?” Their English has Swahili seasoning. It’s like English, but with a twist. “You are coming, ama?”

5. Kenya vs Tanzania = the East African Naija vs Ghana. Their own beef is just softer. It’s about who speaks the “real” Swahili, who sings better Bongo music, who’s more cultured. It’s cute, though.

6. They love their rules. Chei! Airport? Strict. Security? Extra. Queues? Please and thank you. You’ll almost forget this is Africa, until you step outside and see boda bodas (motorbikes) flying past you with no mirrors and 3 passengers on the back.

7. Everyone is “just there.” Ask someone how they’re doing and they’ll tell you, “I’m just there.” It’s not sadness, it’s not joy, it’s just… vibes. Nigerians will tell you “we dey push am o,” or “we thank God o.” But Kenyans? “Just there.

8. Swahili sounds like a love song. Whether they’re arguing or ordering food, Swahili just sounds soft. Like a lullaby. Even when someone is insulting you, it takes a second to realise it. It’s giving slow poison but with melody.

9. Their food doesn’t slap like our food. Sorry not sorry . I’ve tried to eat their food but e no gree me. I ate Ugali, Nyama choma, etc, but nothing beats the flavours of 9ja meals. I made stew 2 days back & my colleague from our office here was almost licking his plate. He had a cold & after eating the rice & stew we served him, bros start to dey sweat! 

10. Customer service is giving....peace. Not excellence o. Just peace. They’ll serve you when they’re ready, no stress, no shouting, and absolutely zero urgency. You can’t fight them, because they’re smiling while moving slowly. You’ll just carry your frustration and go. In other words, East Africans are not as 'fast paced' as we are in Nigeria. But it's good to slow down a bit from the craziness we experience in Lagos, so I'm not complaining.

11. They love silence. Like... actual silence. In lifts, in Ubers, in waiting rooms. No small talk, no “how far? What's up?” Just peaceful breathing. If na for 9ja, we would have shared life stories before the elevator gets to the second floor.  Kenyans? Peace and quiet, please.

12. They dress like the Queen is coming. Even when going to the market, you’ll see women in full makeup and heels, men in jackets and polished shoes. Yesterday being Sunday, I saw people dress very formally for church. But I guess it's also because of the weather. It's very cold and chilly this period, with temperatures ranging from 12 degrees to about 18 degrees. This is the experience since I arrived.

13. Their matatus are vibes on wheels. Imagine Danfo buses with LED lights, bass speakers, graffiti, and gospel music remixes or straight-up trap. That’s a matatu. Some even have Wi-Fi. Like, what da hell?? 

14. One very important one I have noted since I started visiting here in 2023 is that Kenyans are sweet but don’t cross them. They’re calm and cool... until you test their patience. Then boom! All hell will be let loose. That's exactly what happened when they had that protest last year over the financial bill that was about to be passed by their President. The peaceful protest turned into a full-blown disaster with loss of lives and properties. They're peaceful, not stupid.

15. Another one is that Kenya is 2 hrs ahead of Nigeria. Actually most East African countries are, except Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda, who are 1hr ahead of Nigeria.