Living Conditions in Kenya

Communications

Mail

Mail takes a minimum of 2-4 weeks to arrive in Kenya. During your first three months in-country, you may have mail delivered to the main Peace Corps Office; afterwards, you will set up your own post office box. Advise your family and friends to number their letters and to include “Airmail” and “Par Avion” on their envelopes. After the 90-day grace period, the customs office may begin assessing duty charges, which must be paid before a package is released.

Telephones

Cellular telephones and service are widely available in Kenya. Peace Corps Kenya requires Volunteers to either purchase a phone or a SIM card for their existing phone. Please note your smart phone must be unlocked for it to work in Kenya. Only GSM compatible phones will work in Kenya.

Please note: during emergencies, your family can call the Counseling and Outreach Unit 24-hour duty phone in Washington, D.C. (855-855-1961, Option 1, Extension 1470). The Counseling and Outreach Unit will notify a Volunteer of an emergency, respond to a family question about a Volunteer’s status, and/or provide an update about civil unrest or natural disasters in the host country.

Internet

Because internet use appears to be primarily for personal reasons, you are expected to use your living and telecommunications allowances to cover your internet costs. Designated computers in the resource center at the Kisumu office do have internet access. Internet access is available at some post offices and cybercafés in towns and cities. You can also purchase a data package along with your phone plan using your monthly allowance. It is important to note that internet access during your training will not be as regular or consistent as you are probably used to, and you should prepare your loved ones for less frequent communication.

Housing and site location

As a Volunteer, you will most likely live in a rural community and not have access to plumbing or electricity. Expect to use lanterns and candles for lighting. To cook, you will likely use charcoal, wood, or a single-burner kerosene stove.

Peace Corps Kenya, for both philosophical and budget considerations, requires sponsoring organizations to provide all Volunteers with housing. Volunteer housing must conform to the general standards of the community. That is, the housing should not be of substantially higher or lower standards than typical houses within the community. The standard condition of Volunteer housing varies widely, from mud houses with thatched roofs to modern cement houses with running water and electricity.

The type of house you have will depend on your project, the area of the country in which you are posted, and the types of houses available in the community. In short, you can expect to have, at the very least, a room to call your own and a private bathroom. The decision as to whether housing standards are “acceptable” lies with the Peace Corps staff. When it comes to your housing, you should not lose sight of the guiding principles of the Peace Corps.

Volunteer homes with electricity run 220-240 volts/50 cycles of current.

Volunteer site locations will vary and could be 20 minutes from Kisumu or 5 hours by local transportation. Volunteer sites will be assigned based on community need and Volunteer skill set. Being flexible, non-judgmental, and remaining curious will be essential as you settle into your new home.

Living allowance and money management

Volunteers receive a monthly allowance in Kenyan shilling (KES) that is sufficient to live at the level of the local people. The allowance covers food, household supplies, clothing, transportation to and from work, utilities, recreation and entertainment, and incidental expenses. Peace Corps Volunteers are expected to live at a level comparable to that of their host country counterparts. The Peace Corps discourages Volunteers from supplementing their living allowance with funds from home. However, Volunteers often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. For this, credit cards are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans and needs.

Food and diet

In most parts of Kenya, there is a wide choice of foods, ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats. With a little creativity, you can enjoy a varied diet. Fruits and vegetables are seasonal. Vegetarian Volunteers will have little difficulty in continuing their diets after becoming familiar with local food items and their preparation.

Transportation

All Volunteers will be expected to travel in Kenya using local transportation (e.g., foot, bicycle, public buses, or matatu van). This includes getting from the training center to your village-based training site during pre-service training. Trainees and Volunteers are not allowed to drive or own any vehicle (including motorcycles) during training or at their sites. While Volunteers are not allowed to operate cars and motorcycles, some may choose to ride bicycles. Wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is required and will be provided. Refusing to comply with these policies will result in administrative separation from the Peace Corps.

Social activities

Kenya enjoys a rich diversity of ethnicities with strong pride in their cultures. Kenyans are generally social and spend much time together, which can feel different for some Americans used to spending time alone. Men and women enjoy some separate activities on weekends as do youth and children.

Weddings and funerals are very important events in the lives of Kenyans and will be attended by most people in the community where you will be living. Attendance at these events is a sign of respect and much appreciated by host families and community members.

In some communities, the gathering of firewood and water and doing laundry are social activities carried out by women and children and an important place to learn about the community and the ways of women.

Meals, especially the evening meal, are shared and a time for the exchange of information and stories, as is tea time, and Volunteers can gain a wealth of understanding by joining in a cup of tea or a meal. Reciprocating with neighbors and friends is also welcome. Reaching out and sharing American customs around socializing is important as well.

Church attendance is an integral component of the fabric and rhythm of Kenyan life and can also provide a wealth of integration and learning opportunities. There are many churches in the country and Kenyans enjoy welcoming guests/visitors to attend their churches.

There are many church-related women’s and men’s groups on the weekend. Community and clan groups also meet on weekends to allow working people to attend. Many Kenyan communities are very organized, have regular meetings, and can provide an excellent way to gain understanding about what is happening locally.

Bars are located in most communities, and they are common socializing places, primarily for men. Sharing a beer and conversation is a pastime that focuses on camaraderie and sharing stories. Binge drinking is not common, and excessive drunkenness may cause consternation in a community and impede the building of trust. Married women generally do not frequent bars. Volunteers will need to understand their community’s norms around bars, especially for women.

Women have a traditional money saving scheme called a “merry-go-round,” whereby they contribute money to a community-managed fund and at the end of the year, collect these funds. The management of the merry-go-round fund is a social activity which attracts many women in the community.

Professionalism, appearance, dress, and behavior

Professionalism in the Peace Corps requires an awareness of the host community workplace culture, community values, and your self-presentation. To maintain a positive, culturally appropriate professional standing within a host community or workplace, Volunteers may need to adjust their style of dress, hair style, facial hair, make-up, piercings, manner of greeting others, etc., to demonstrate respect for local culture and customs. How you present yourself, in both informal and professional settings, is a reflection of you as an individual and of you as a representative of Peace Corps and the United States. In the U.S., dress (and other elements of personal appearance) may be seen as an expression of personal freedom and identity. In many host countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve, the way you dress and present yourself may be interpreted as an expression of regard—or disregard—for those host community members around you.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend time in their communities, develop their language skills, and get to know the individual members of their community in order to better understand their traditions, culture, and local norms. As mutual trust is established over time, there may be opportunities for Volunteers to adjust their personal appearance and dress outside of the local standards. Volunteers are encouraged to discuss these potential adjustments with staff and other cultural mentors.

Kenyans regard attention to dress and appearance as a demonstration of respect. Attending work in clean, “smart casual” attire shows you respect the institution and your colleagues. You are expected to dress in a culturally appropriate manner whether you are in training, traveling, doing daily shopping, or working in fields or on the job. There is no day off from demonstrating cultural respect.

Schools and health facilities have dress codes in their code of conduct which is generally “smart casual.”

Health Volunteers spend much of their time in the field, so it is advisable to bring clothing that is comfortable and modest. Footwear appropriate for standing, walking, and biking is also a necessity.

Dresses and skirts should fall below the knee. Spaghetti straps are not appropriate unless covered with a sleeved shirt or jacket.

Longer-length shorts can be worn at home, when exercising, or when doing work/activities where Kenyan counterparts are also wearing them.

Sturdy sandals and closed-toed shoes are acceptable footwear for most work-related activities.

Hair should be clean and neat, with beards and mustaches neatly trimmed. Long hair on men may have cultural implications. It should be tied back in the work environment.

Tattoos and some piercings may not be culturally accepted, may impede community and workplace integration, and may result in unwanted attention. Volunteers with visible body piercings or tattoos will need strategies to conceal them, especially as they begin to integrate into their communities, and possibly for the duration.