Kenyan Communication

Culture Name

Kenyan, East African

Country and Culture Location

Kenya is located on the equator in the

middle of Africas eastern coast.
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Description of Formal Contexts

In business situations, ceremonies, or

between acquaintances or new
greetings formal language is used to
show respect to the other party or
individual. Eye contact and shaking
hands is expected and polite.

Description of Informal Contexts

Informal contexts would include

exchanges between family or close
friends. Hugs are usually given, and
hands may be affectionately held
during discussion and catching up, even
between two men who are brothers or
very close friends.

Description of Roles

Traditional gender roles are upheld in

speech patterns. Elders and leaders are
always given the utmost respect when
communicating through both
appropriate physical gestures and
formal language. As Dramaturgical
perspective suggests, interactions
change depending upon the role one
times themselves in at a given time.
Friends speaking with friends will
speak more informally. Children will
speak informally to one another but
will speak formally to adults in the
same room, including their parents and
other family members unless spoken to
informally first to give permission.

Description of Status

Status within a social setting is

determined by gender, social class, role
within a family/village/company that is
present.

Specific Gender Rules

Men speak formally in business

situations. They may speak more
informally to children or women.
Women and children always speak
formally to men. Children will wait to
be spoken to before speaking. Women
will also wait to speak until permission
is given.

Specific Rules of Engagement and Disengagement

Strong Handshakes are given even with

formal greetings. Informal greetings
involve hugs, especially with friends.

Small talk is always made after the

initial verbal greeting . It is considered
very rude to skip this step in
communication. Since relationship is so
important it is considered a social faux
pas to not show consideration for the
other partys family or current life
happenings.
History of the greeting ritual

History of the greeting ritual

Modification in contemporary contexts

Hand-holding by the same gender may

cause stereotypes/assumptions

Important taboos during the ritual

Bypassing the polite chatter, not giving

eye contact, using your left hand only to
shake a hand (unclean hand).

Application to business, education, social and religious life These rituals and communication
expectations are equally important in
all of these areas of life. Business
dealings are to be done with respect
and honor, students should be
respectfully communication with their
elders and teachers, and all individuals
should be giving respect and
appropriate honor to those around
them.
Potential cross-cultural conflicts

Other cultures may not be used to small

talk in business situations and come off
as short or rude when they simply get
down to business.