Culture Snippets: Kenya

‘Culture snippets’ is our way of sharing snippets of insights into different countries. If you want to chat about how you can use these insights to inform your product and business decisions, feel free to get in touch.

Kenya has a relatively fast mobile internet speed. However, many, especially in rural Kenya, still can’t afford data or expensive handsets. Launched in 2007 by Safaricom (the country’s largest mobile-network operator), M-PESA (a mobile money transfer system) has revolutionised the way Kenyans spend, save, or send money, hence shaping the country’s economy without the need of mobile data or apps.

#USSD codes have created a new way for Kenyans to access services (e.g. send money, pay bills, receive money, buy goods, access government services).

#Harambee culture (to pull together) - living & working as groups, believing in mutual responsibility & effort is what Kenyans are very familiar with. It’s common for individuals to voluntarily contribute their resources (e.g. cash, labour) towards a communal good. That’s why Chamas (informal cooperative self-help, micro-savings groups) are popular in Kenya. It’s a way for communities to pool resources, investments, friendships & spirit to help each other grow economically & possibly achieve financial independence. We heard about HIV support groups raising money to assist each other through table banking when we interviewed HIV patients at their homes.

And... Chui = Leopard in Swahili, Kenya's national language so it was easy to introduce myself in Kenya.

Photos: Taken when we were on the ground helping our clients to understand more about their customers and markets in this country.