KenyaFood and Drink

There is no singular dish that represents all of Kenya’s wide-ranging cuisine. Different communities have their own native foods, with staples varying from region to region. Grains such as millet, for instance, are favoured by the Kikuyu, Embu, Meru, and Kisii people, who tend to grow cereal crops. In semi-arid areas like Turkana, dishes made from sorghum are more common. Other communities such as the Luo and those along the coast eat fish and seafood in abundance. The foods and dishes that are universally eaten in Kenya are ugali (a thick maize porridge), sukuma wiki (collard greens sauteed with tomatoes and onions), and nyama choma (roasted beef or goat).

What is Kenya’s traditional cuisine?

Despite the diversity of the country, the daily Kenyan menu tends to have a similar structure regardless of where you are. In the morning, most locals start their day with a hot cup of milk tea served alongside sugary accompaniments such as mandazi (round or triangular pieces of pan-fried dough spiked with lemon zest, cinnamon or cardamom) or mahamri (pillowy Swahili-style doughnuts not to be confused with mandazi). The preferred source of starch during lunch or supper is widely popular ugali, which is similar to polenta and often served in slabs—no visit to Kenya is complete without trying it. It might be served alongside grilled meat, poultry or fish as well as kachumbari (a tangy tomato and onion salad). In the western part of the country, your plate might also include matoke, green bananas that have been cooked until soft and then mashed or left whole. Still hungry? Street-food aficionados will want to seek out mutura, a traditional Kenyan sausage made with minced meat, blood and spices; a popular snack or party food, it’s usually boiled first, then grilled until it’s crispy.

What is the dining etiquette in Kenya?

Kenyan table manners are relatively formal, with a number of rituals typically observed. Whether at home or in a restaurant, diners are expected to wash their hands before and after a meal (in some homes, a washing basin will be brought to the table, whereupon water will be poured over your outstretched hands). As a rule, do not object if your host indicates where you should sit, and don’t begin eating until the eldest male has been served and started eating. It is a good idea to take a small amount of food the first time a platter is passed around so that you can take second helpings when you’re invariably urged to do so. Although it isn’t mandatory, it’s considered polite to finish everything on your plate. Never speak with food in your mouth.

What is the drinking etiquette in Kenya?

Beverages aren’t generally served with meals in Kenya since Kenyans think it is impolite to eat and drink simultaneously. Drinks are therefore commonly served at the completion of a meal. These might include Kenya Cane (a brand of triple-distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane), Kenya Gold (a coffee-flavoured liqueur) or a potent cocktail called a dawa, which means “medicine” or “magic spirit” in Kiswahili and combines vodka, white rum, honey, and lime juice. Many Kenyans, though, prefer traditional home brews such as changaa, another very potent spirit made by fermenting and distilling grains such as millet, maize or sorghum. Whatever the drink or the setting, eat first and then drink. Do not pour your own drink if you are a guest. Always wait to be served.

Does Kenya cater to dietary restrictions?

It isn’t difficult to find vegetarian and vegan meals in Kenya, where fruits, salads, and vegetable stews are on almost every menu. Popular staples like ugali, made with maize flour, are also naturally gluten-free. Indeed, Nairobi is rife with gluten-free and celiac-friendly restaurants, both corporate and small-scale. And though some soups and stews contain groundnuts, nuts are largely easy to avoid—just convey your restrictions to servers and safari operators to make sure you don’t encounter them.

What do meals typically cost in Kenya?

Depending on the restaurant, lunches and dinners in Kenya can cost anywhere from USD $10 to $40 per person. Breakfasts are even more of a bargain, ranging from USD $3 to $8. On overnight safaris, meals are typically included in the overall cost. In Nairobi and other cities, street food can be had for less than USD $1per plate, with grilled meat at a streetside eatery costing around USD $3 to $4.