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For the average IFA looking for an attractive relocation locale, Kenya will not generally be included on the short list.
Granted, for those seeking the type of fast-paced glitz that destinations such as Dubai or Hong Kong offer, Kenya is probably not the place to choose.
However, those in the know are quick and adamant to underscore the long list of exotic, amazing, and awe-inspiring appeals this country offers them – many of which are a bit off-the-beaten-track. Financial advisers seeking the less-than-ordinary should definitely give Kenya a second look.
In East Africa, Kenya borders Ethiopia on the north, Somalia on the northeast, Tanzania on the south, Uganda on the west, and Sudan on the northwest, with the Indian Ocean on the southeast. The country has an area of 582,646 square kilometres, and is divided in near-equal halves by the equator.
Revered by anthropologists as the 'cradle of humanity', Kenya is wild and a little dangerous. If you're adventurous - and sensible - it promises the globe's most magnificent wildlife parks, unsullied beaches, thriving coral reefs, memorable mountain ranges and ancient Swahili cities.
The Swahili word safari (literally, journey) wouldn't mean much to most people if it wasn't for this East African adventure land. No matter how many Tarzan movies you've seen, nothing will prepare you for the annual mass migration of wildebeests in the Maasai Mara.
Government
Kenya is a republic, in which the President serves as both the chief of state and the head of government. The country has a unicameral National Assembly consisting of 210 members elected to a term of up to five years, plus 12 members nominated by political parties.
With a population of close to 34 million, the nation’s main economic strengths include tourism and agriculture, and the economy is showing growth after some years of stagnation. Although no clear official estimates of the country’s expat population appear to be available, the general consensus is that the number is “huge.”
Due to it abundance of ancient archaeological sites, Kenya has been termed the ‘Cradle of Mankind’. The Kenyan coast has had contacts with the outside world for the last 2000 years – a fact that is obvious in the distinct architectural designs (e.g. the town of Lamu is among those preserved as world heritage sites).
Doing Business in Kenya
Strategically located, with reputable and developed financial markets, Kenya is well on its way to become a major regional services centre for information technology, banking and transportation.
Kenya’s membership in the East African Community (EAC), a trading bloc consisting of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) attracts foreign investors and international companies seeking access to the East and Central African markets. Through Kenya, an investor can access the 380-million-strong COMESA market.
The Kenya government is taking diverse measures to promote both foreign and domestic investment, focussing its investment promotion on prospects that produce foreign exchange, furnish employment, promote two-way links, and increase the transfer of technology.
The only noteworthy sectors in which investment (both foreign and domestic) are constrained involve state corporations in a ‘statutory’ monopoly situation. These are limited almost completely to power, telecommunications, and other infrastructure areas.
Diversity Unbound
Diversity is Kenya’s middle name - it is indeed a country of wide-ranging ethnic and cultural variety. Urban areas provide you with a completely western culture and a similar urban fashion as you would find in any big city in the world. In contrast, in rural areas and remote parts of the country, people live in their traditional way of life, looking after cattle, farming their plots of land, and doing laundry in a stream.
On the whole, Kenyans are exceptionally warm and friendly people. As most visitors and expats alike have discovered, the more you socialize with Kenyans, the more you delight at the friendliness of the people, their warm smiles and their easygoing nature.
This is best exemplified by their ‘Hakuna Matata’ motto, which simply means ‘no worries’ in Swahili (a fact that became internationally known following the release of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ some years ago).
Music and dance are an enchanting part of Kenyan culture, and they form an integral role in social and religious life. In most urban centres you’ll find young people dancing to the latest contemporary music known as ‘kapuka’. In the western parts of Kenya, the popular style is ‘benga’ dance music. There’s even music on the ‘matatus’ - the multi-coloured and individually decorated and named public transportation mini-buses along the roads.
In addition, Kenya offers the perfect combination of work and play.
Wild & Wonderful Leisure Activities
Your time outside of the office can be spent exploring the wilderness, taking game drives, hikes or visiting local villages and African markets. An enormous range of safaris, hiking, and white-water rafting is available, to suit every possible taste in excitement, fun and adventure.
There are close to a dozen National Parks in Kenya, featuring great game from gnus to giraffe, hyenas to rhinos, and Elephants to zebra. You can fly to the Masai Mara - one of the most famous game parks in Africa - stay in a great upscale and luxurious tented camp for two nights, including endless food, and several game drives between dips in the pool for a fraction of what you would pay in other equivalent destinations.
Campers and climbers find there is also plenty for them to do. Lake Naivasha, in the Great Rift Valley, offers sailing, boating, and fishing. Mt. Kenya offers a great climbing experience, as does Mt. Kilimanjaro, just across the border in Tanzania.
As one expat extolled, “This place is the crown jewel of the Horn of Africa!” Another contented expat cited, “There’s plenty to do here. I'm always meeting new people and having good times.”
So, if you are a financial adviser who is intrigued by the possibility of spending some time in a country steeped in ancient tradition and history, which offers tremendous earning potential, an abundance of extraordinary recreational pastimes and an affordable-yet-splendid lifestyle…think ‘Kenya’!
Hakuna Matata!!!
For further information about Kenya we recommend that you visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya where you will find many useful links and informative articles to prepare you for your move.