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Verbal

• Indirect Communication Kenyans are generally indirect communicators who often seek to avoid conflict or confrontation. Indeed, Kenyans prefer to maintain harmony rather than confront someone about a problem. Many will avoid giving a direct "no" directly or negative response as they are uncomfortable with blunt statements. Instead, they will usually say "yes" or "no problem". Kenyans may also use metaphors, anecdotes or analogies to make their point more delicately. This communication style means that their true feelings may not always be immediately detectable.
• Communication Style: Most Kenyans converse in a polite and friendly manner. From a very young age, Kenyans are taught to respect hierarchy, defer to elders and superiors, and speak in a deliberate manner. They generally contemplate what they will say before they speak, ensuring their words are considerate. Losing one’s temper, talking loudly or angrily, swearing or using demeaning language reflects poor manners and, for some, a poor upbringing.
• Criticism: Criticism is usually delivered in private and indirectly and sensitively in private. This is to avoid conflict or appearing too blunt.
• ±á³Ü³¾´Ç³Ü°ù:ÌýConversations are often interjected with humour and laughter. The appropriacy of humour in a conversation depends mainly on the relationship between conversation partners. Many disputes are resolved through the use of humour.
• Sheng: The term ‘Sheng’ refers to a type of language, similar to slang, that is a mixture of Swahili, English and other indigenous languages. It is commonly spoken in urban areas by the youth of Kenya.

Non-Verbal

• Personal Space: Kenyans generally do not consider it rude to stand close to another’s personal space. Kenyans stand within an arm's length when conversing with one another. It is typical for Kenyans, particularly from rural areas, to feel that someone who keeps a distance while speaking is being aloof. However, Kenyans from more urban areas are more likely to expect and give more personal space.
• Physical Contact: Physical contact is usually kept to a minimum during conversations. However, people are more tactile among close friends and family. Public displays of affection between couples are considered inappropriate in most communities, although they are becoming more common in the capital city of Nairobi. Between people of the same gender, it is common to hold hands while walking in public. It is particularly inappropriate to touch an elder or someone more senior.
• Eye Contact: Many Kenyans, particularly those from urban areas, use direct eye contact to show interest and honesty. People in some regions of the country might not initially make direct eye contact with an elder or more senior person. Those in rural areas may not maintain regular eye contact when speaking.
• ³Ò±ð²õ³Ù³Ü°ù±ð²õ:ÌýMany Kenyans use gestures to emphasise a point in the conversation. One common gesture in Kenya is to hold one's left fist closed and to smack the thumb-side of the closed fist with the open palm of the other hand. This gesture indicates that a bus, car or restaurant is full.
• ±Ê´Ç¾±²Ô³Ù¾±²Ô²µ:ÌýTo point with the index finger is considered to be rude. Instead, people point with their chin or lips in the direction they wish to indicate.
• Beckoning: The most common way to beckon is to wave all fingers of one hand, with the palm facing either up or down. As a way of beckoning someone or getting someone's attention, some Kenyans may also make a ‘tsk' sound very loudly and as many times as necessary to alert someone. Making this sound is quite common and is considered an acceptable practice.
• Smiling: Kenyans tend to smile a lot in conversation regardless of whether the discussion is humorous.