Expat Community > Kenya

LizYoung
Joined 2007
Posts: 25

Tips if you're coming to Kenya

16 years ago

I've been in Nairobi a month now and I thought I'd offer a few bits of advice and some observations that might be helpful to others...

The very first bit of advice I can offer is to contact Paula Mwaura who is an excellent expat relocation service provider. She can help you find a flat, arrange for the deposit to get paid in advance of your arrival, offer advice about shopping, etc. she has helped me so much both before arriving and after&worth every penny. Her contact is [email protected]
EVERYTHING is crazy expensive here right now. I go to 4 different stores (I walk most of the time) to find what I need for cooking, etc. and look for the best prices but I think Im spending $50.00 per week for food and I eat out maybe once a week. A basic lunch out at a local chicken place will cost about $5.00US so Nairobi definitely doesnt have that developing world/cheapvibe going for it. I think its a Kenya thing but Ill find out when I go to Ethiopia next month. You can buy just about anything you want to eat here&or find ingredients to make due. Unlike Cairo (where I used to live) brand name foods, like Oreos, are everywhere but just keep in mind that youll pay a premium for any Western brand.
Taxis are outrageous (the minimum charge is about $5.00 and there are no meters) so learn the bus system or walk. I wont get into a matatu (minibus) as they just drive like total maniacs and its not worth it.
Theyre increasing the tax on electricity by 20% soon to help with the new budget so turning off outlets, etc. when youre not using them is a must. Look for a shower that has an instant hot water shower head if youre stuck with a tank only your electric bill will be nuts. Also see what size the fridge is too big and youll be paying crazy rates every month.
SAT TV is $100.00 and probably not worth it theres not much to see quite honestly but if you NEED TV beyond the few public channels (CNBC news is one of the free ones) then budget for that. That price is non-negotiable.
Again I am shocked at the prices here...as is everyone else. I had a hot chocolate out the other day and it cost me $4.00 (tipping is very optional Kenyans dont do it). Im self-financed until I can get work together so maybe Im a bit more frugal... I walk to the arboretum near the State House on most weekends its a really nice park loaded with families out for the day and its free finding stuff like that to entertain has been challenging. Theres no shortage of shopping malls here loaded with plenty of clothes, shoes, electronics nice ones so dont worry about that too much. Do keep in mind though that if you have to buy anything&its going to cost you.
July, Im told, is the really cold month so bring sweaters and turtle necks not tons of them but enough. Women by and large wear skirts below the knee thats something I noticed about Kenyan women they always look nice. Always wear jewelry and very put together no matter how poor they might be. I have a pair of Keen sandals from REI that are my daily shoes even while wearing a skirt. My nice shoes just get trashed walking as sidewalks come and go and the dirt is a dark red that permeates everything...the Keens are holding up well so Im glad I went ahead and got a few pair.
Im paying 50,000KSH (or about $830.00USD) per month for a two month furnished flat That includes all linens, pots/pants (although I bought a few new skillets), glasses, tea kettle, etc. very well stocked kitchen. The rent also includes maid service twice a week and laundry service twice a week although they wont wash underwear so embrace the idea of washing it in the shower with you. Its very clean, safe, and in a great neighborhood as I can walk to every shop I need&something very critical to remember when finding your place as your budget will get eaten up with taxis if you dont have a car. When I moved in, I negotiated with my landlord about the internet fee as they wanted 7500KSH or $130.00USD/month and I got them down to 4000KSH or 63.00USD/month so watch out for that.
Check for at least one step-down converter in your flat and make sure it has a plug to go from 220/110 thats what I use to charge my laptop, USA phone, IPOD, etc. Usually...the fridge and TV are connected to one so its not a problem.
I kept my US cell phone intact and just switched to the cheapest possible program offered by my carrier T-mobile. Its MUCH easier, if I have to call home or a toll free credit card number, etc. to use my US phone. I limit it, obviously, because its expensive but it simplified things. I bought a new mobile phone in Nairobi (about $150.00 but you can find every model made) and went with CelTel&youll find that people are either CelTel or Safaricom. Calls to other people on the same nextwork are much cheaper than CelTel to Safaricom calls or text messages so if the majority of your work or friends has one particular carrier&get a SIM for that carrier as well and youll save quite a bit. Just about everyone as pre-paid cellular and scratch cards are sold everywhere. If you have a spare quad-band phone, just bring it over and get a new SIM&

A few things I wish Id brought...
Airborne the stuff for colds
Sudafed or just some cheap allergy meds
A microwave egg poacher I found a stove top one but had to pay $25.00 for it!
TAMPONS I had to search for Tampax and theyre crazy expensive -$14.00 for a normal sized box every brand is expensive
A vegetable steamer the kind that folds up and then goes into a pan they dont exist here so far
Multivitamins very expensive here for any supplements
A few more books also very expensive here plan to pay double for any book which is nuts because a lot of them are used
AA Batteries like a big box from Costco again just nutty expensive OR rechargeable batteries/charger
Disposable razors theyre not so great here

Things Im glad I brought:
Minimag flashlights I brought these and am glad I did the power goes out regularly for rationing so I have one in each room and in my bag
IPOD I bought one so I could leave my CDs behind and also bought a portable speaker system for travel that works really well
My own towels
Step-down coverter mini-travel adapters from Brookstone that can go from 220 to 110 I use that thing for my hair dryer constantly
Wal-mart shopping bags so you dont use plastic I use them every time I go grocery shopping and theyre lightweight, crush easily in my bag, and are obviously better for the environment.

I came in with 7 bags total all duffel bags on wheels 36. When I got to the airport, I basically just sort of kept walking past the customs guy and smiled and waved (he was busy searching the bags of another party) and so wasnt questioned/searched. If they had searched my bags, they could have charged duty on everything OR they could have denied entry as a tourist wouldnt usually bring in photos, a keyboard, and the other things that were in my bags. If nothing else, plan for duty fees and have loads of $20 and $50 dollar bills on hand to take care of fees and/or gifts. I came in as a tourist so the number of bags was important to keep as low as possible. I went to the consulate in L.A. And got a multi-entry VISA good for 3 months which I can extend for another 3 months...thus the trip to Ethiopia as I have to leave East Africato maintain the visa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are what they consider EA). Once that expires, I can go and get another one. I just have to keep leaving once in a while to make it look like Im a tourist. Im self-financed and work as a consultant so I wont be getting a work visa via a company&Ill have to pursue that on my own when I can.
Thats it! I hope that this is helpful for some of you&
If you have any additional, specific questions, you can email me at [email protected] and Ill do my best to answer.
LY

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