I have lived in Kenya all my life and came to UK recently, I am 36 years and all of those except may be 2 years have been lived in Kenya and the rest in Brazil, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and now UK.

On the issue of who is truly Kenyan I wish to you on the fact that you thought you were Kenyan and did some effort in trying to learn the culture of Kenya.

Infact you might be more Kenyan than many of the Kenyans trying to run away from Kenya and even change names to english names to give themselves a sense of belonging to the western culture as if any culture is supreme. My consideration of west and Kenya(africa) is only the economic development rather than good or bad culture. The west is more developed and Most of Africa is not But that does not mean that we Kenyans should not be proud being Kenyans and also the Kenyan culture.

So by the sense that you can identify your roots and are happy being a Knyan then you are welcome.

Though I wish to say that in some instances you might not understand the absolute issues in Kenya as much as I find myself unable to understand many things in UK, which is partly because I have not lived here and my study and interest in the British culture have not been of much help to me like the real experience I am getting right now.

For me to be really Kenyan to be a person who can identify with the positive and negative issues for or against Kenya or Kenyans, and understand that in every country, race and or tribe, there is always the bad guys and the good guys, no culture is bad or evil its just different.

I am not Kenyan but I found this website while searching for some information on Kenyan surnames. I was wondering if someone could help me find out a name. I am told that the meaning is ‘Child of God’ and I know it starts with a ‘W’. I think it is something like ‘Walumba’. Can anyone help please email bridge_k@hotmail.com

You are what you are, and what you feel. You can be many things, or nothing. It’s a construct that you develop from your own experience.

LOL @ Sleepiing with the Enemy. You have to DO YOU! If it’s working, stay at it. You still are very conscious.

Back home you are expected to behave a certain way. You are expected to display what they view as the particular traits of the tribe/country. Once you don’t conform they’ll question you. The truth is when living abroad you absorb other cultures and you become something else. Something unique. Some people can’t deal with that and will have a problem with you being individually different. It’s crazy.

It takes a strong character to ignore this bs and be natural. I’m glad you decided not to be another culturally confused young person. 😉

I knew this was a huge issue when a good friend of mine told me it was incredibly unfair of Kenyans who received their post high school education outside of Kenya to get jobs in Kenya. Reason, they had abandoned Kenya and didnt deserve the same benefits as those who remained there… I must have stopped listening right here coz I don’t remember anymore.

So even for studying outside of Kenya, you may no longer be Kenyan, if you’re listening to what they are saying.