Kenya’s rich and diverse captivating culture affects international retailing in ways like how they process socialization practices in their culture that adheres to how their retail system functions and how their culture influences what they purchase. According to the author, one may say that Kenya’s style of dress is multi-cultural since it is considered to have 42 different tribes housed under one country; all their traditional attires are compounded to have headgear, a loin cloth, and a cloak that sits across the shoulders (Wambugi, 2017). All 42 Kenyan tribes are heavily influenced by how they’re being represented as a country and they’re very conscious of how they developed their own unique dress style compared to the rest of Africa. According to the article, Kenya follows High Context agreements with the basic intent of generalization of the agreements with the partners in which they’re involved, The Business Laws (amendment) no.2 Act, 2011 shows that the Kenyan government is to be able to reduce the costs and the time spent on business transactions in a much smoother way than what was in place before (Ndung’u, 2023). In order to understand Kenya’s diverse international retailing ventures you must be able to adhere to how its growing economic connection worldwide has an influence on its people, how a successful retailer knows the culture surrounding its target market in Kenya, and how important it is to understand Kenyan people’s mannerisms in their social sector within their culture plays a big part of how a business could be successful in Kenya.
Kenya is not only fruitful in its international retailing economic sector but more importantly, it’s a way of having developed its own culture amongst the attitude of how the Kenyan people have adopted their own human behaviors that exist in their culture. According to the author, one may say that their perception of space between two people who are having a conversation generally happens at arm’s length or even that two men who know each other very well, walk hand in hand while they’re having a conversation (Culture crossing guide, 2017). Kenyan people’s social culture is derived to be very friendly and very community-like when it comes to their interactions. According to the author, the material possessions market is making an influence on their culture, a lot of international companies are setting base in the country, the power within the middle class is making a splash, and the youth target market in Kenya is expected to sustain the influence in the luxury good market (Gaya, 2020). Luxury International retailers are starting to see the influence in which they could be able to touch base in other countries and how they could be able to sustain their wealth in Kenya. According to the author, friendship patterns relating to marriage relate to how they relate to one another and illustrate cultural patterns, in this case, Kenyan people avoid marrying within their own clan and usually have arranged marriages, more importantly within Muslim families (Cultural Atlas, 2023). People within Kenyan culture are influenced by their families opinions and often don’t go off and do their own thing without the family’s approval first. According to the author, Meetings usually begin on time, Kenya’s concept of time is generally fluid, and they have a low tolerance for risk since they like to commit to something if all information has been given; only then will they consider an offer; which requires some time and patience from the other businesspeople (Expat arrivals, 2023). In Kenya, these deeply important social norms help other international businesspeople to be able to get acclimated to their environments and stand a higher chance of building an interpersonal relationship which Is needed remotely and in person to sustain a long-lasting relationship.
Page Author: Valerie Waldron
