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Meetings

• Appointments should be made at least two weeks in advance. It is important to confirm the meeting time and date two or three days before the meeting.
• It is essential to address people using appropriate titles in professional settings. Kenyans will address people using their academic, professional, or honorific title followed by their surname to show respect.
• Once a personal relationship has developed, it is acceptable to address a person by their title and first name, just their first name or nickname. It is best to wait for your Kenyan counterpart to determine when it is appropriate to interact with this level of informality.
• Meetings usually start and conclude with everyone shaking hands, exchanging business cards and engaging in small talk.
• Meetings formally begin with each person standing and introducing themselves to those present.
• The seating positions in a meeting are usually based on the hierarchy of those present.
• Business meetings in Kenya are often long, as everyone is expected to contribute to the meeting.
• In the public sector, all decisions are made by superiors and then passed down to employees. Both staff and superiors may generate ideas.
• In the private sector, employees generate ideas more often, but the superior will make most decisions.
• Kenyans prefer to take their time discussing the agenda. Attempts to rush a meeting may have the adverse result of lengthening discussions.
• Large meetings usually have a coffee break, while small meetings will have coffee or tea on offer during the meeting.
• Most meetings and negotiations are carried out in English.

Respect

Respect is integral to successful business dealings in Kenya. For example, it is a sign of deference and respect to support the right forearm with the left hand while shaking hands with someone of higher status in a business setting (see Greetings). This greeting is usually accompanied by questions about the person's general well-being, family, and business.

Skipping or rushing this form of greeting is perceived as poor etiquette. During meetings, everyone is provided with an opportunity to contribute to the meeting. Every remark, criticism or suggestion is given consideration. Thus, to build rapport with your Kenyan business counterpart, respect everyone present at the meeting by listening to their thoughts and showing deference to those of higher standing.

Considerations

• Businesses in Kenya tend to operate on 'Swahili Time'. It is generally expected that if a meeting is set to begin at, for example, 8:00 am, it may well not properly start until 9:00 am. Similarly, if you arrive late for a business meeting, it is rare for someone to be irritated, especially if you flag in advance that you may be late.
• However, employees often go to great lengths to arrive at work on time. Many will leave more than ample time for their journey to work as they will be factoring in unseen delays with public transport.
• A common way to build relationships with business partners is through sharing meals.
• English is widely spoken, particularly in a business context.
• Education level is highly regarded in Kenyan business culture. Regardless of one's work experience, a person with higher education will be highly respected by others.
• There are geographical differences in business practices. For example, business is often fast-paced in the capital city of Nairobi. Meanwhile, business is conducted at a much slower pace in the coastal city of Mombasa.
• Many Kenyan businesses emphasise ‘Corporate Social Responsibility' (CSR) in their projects, such as contributing to the local community, initiating social and environmental projects, or promoting Kenyan culture. Any efforts to assist a Kenyan company in pursuing CSR would be highly appreciated.
• Most of Kenya's labour force work outside the formal sector, either as subsistence farmers or in the urban informal sector.
• It is not uncommon to find nepotism in Kenyan businesses. This tends to be viewed as a way of upholding obligations to one's family.
• The 2023 Corruption Perception Index ranked Kenya 126th out of 180 countries, receiving a score of 31/100. This metric suggests that the country's public sector is somewhat corrupt.¹