Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Only two people I know that came from Kenya are: Roger Whittaker, one of the best singers on the Planet. Barack Obama, nough said.
Mine is M.G. Vassanji, who wrote beautifully about Kenya in the "In Between World of Vikram Lal" about the Indo-Kenyan experience, and about Kenyan society in general, throughout the turbulent mid and late 20th century. Barack Obama is of partial Kenyan (Luo specifically) descent, but it is wrong to say he is Kenyan because he never lived there and does not hold Kenyan citizenship. He has little first hand understanding of Kenya, I imagine he understands even Indonesia better then Kenya as he lived there for several years as a child. It's as accurate to say that he is Irish. Neither Ireland nor Kenya truly produced the man, as we are truly products of our own lives and lands, not those of our parents and ancestors.
Barack Obama is of partial Kenyan (Luo specifically) descent, but it is wrong to say he is Kenyan because he never lived there and does not hold Kenyan citizenship. He has little first hand understanding of Kenya, I imagine he understands even Indonesia better then Kenya as he lived there for several years as a child. It's as accurate to say that he is Irish. Neither Ireland nor Kenya truly produced the man, as we are truly products of our own lives and lands, not those of our parents and ancestors.
So obviously you speak English but how widely spoken is it in Kenya? For people visiting would they have any issues getting around? Or for the most part can everyone speak English?
EDIT: Bonus personal question Do you ever feel like the world generalises too much with the term "Africa" and "Africans".
Example, when people say there is Ebola in Africa but they almost seem like they're referring to the whole of Africa (as a unit). Or when I see pictures from foreigners in a rural place in South Africa and say "This is Africa!", almost as if they've collectively lumped every African country together.
English is the official language in Kenya. Street signs the news and all official documents are in english.( some have versions in swahili as well) Schools teach in english, childrens text books and story books are in english....most people can read better in english than Swahili.( except on the Coast... These are the original swahili people but even they understand English well)
All that said, on the streets, most people will communicate in Swahili. However they almost by default, address foreigners or perceived foreigners in english. You should be more worried about understanding their accents.
English is a very widely spoken language worldwide. I daresay you'll be hard pressed to find entire countries especially large cities where no good number of people speak and understand english. Those countries will more likely be in in Asia or South America. Not Africa. Africa was very thoroughly colonized so, most of the continent uses English or French as an official language on a daily basis.
Now do they speak American? That a topic for another thread
Status:
"Do not pass GO, do not collect $300 (used to be $200)"
(set 4 days ago)
Location: TN
600 posts, read 273,924 times
Reputation: 385
Jambo! I just want to say thank you. You're doing a great service by offering to share your knowledge and experience. I may be a bit biased, as my mom's side is Kenyan (Kikuyu).
Well just out of curiosity, have you witnessed any Americans who moved to Kenya to begin their career?
Why is Tusker beer never for sale in the United States?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.