Interview with Frances W - a British expat living in Kenya

Frances Woodhams has lived in East Africa for the past eleven years, and in Nairobi for seven. She's been writing a blog about Nairobi expat life in order to dispel any myths about Kenya living, such as those promoted by popular media like Out of Africa, White Masai, White Mischief! She wants to let people know what Kenya is really like and why expats love living there. Frances writes the entertaining blog africaexpatwivesclub.blogspot.com

Read more expat experiences of Kenya, and check out the full Kenya expat guide

About you

Q: Where are you originally from?
A: UK

Q: Where are you living now?
A:  Nairobi, Kenya

Q: How long you have you lived here?
A:  7 years +

Q: Did you move with a spouse/ children?
A:  Yes, 3 daughters.

Q: Why did you move; what do you do?
A:  We originally moved to East Africa in 1999, to Tanzania first, then Kenya.  My husband was keen to work in the region, having spent fourteen years in Kenya as a child.

About Kenya

Q: What do you enjoy most about your Nairobi, how’s the quality of life in Kenya?
A:  It’s great for families. We have an outdoor life, wonderful schools there’s plenty of people and opportunities for adventure!

Q: Any negatives? What do you miss most about home?
A: Apart from the obvious, missing having family and friends close by, I sometimes miss the UK shopping; the convenience foods in the supermarket and just the choice of clothes shops etc.  I miss being able to just pop out and get what you need – but quite honestly, we don’t do badly here.

Q: Is Nairobi safe?
A: Nairobi’s reputation is far worse than the reality.  Many expats live here without being the victims of crime, though of course the problem does exist.

About living in Nairobi

Q: Which are the best places/suburbs to live in Nairobi as an expat?
A:  There are loads of lovely suburbs round Nairobi.  Muthaiga, Gigiri and Runda are popular with international expats who work in embassies in the area or at the main UN offices.  The Karen suburb is good for those commuting into the industrial area.  The closer you get into town, the more densely built up it gets with lots of apartment buildings.  Lavington, Kilimani and Westlands are also popular, but you would be most likely to live in an apartment here.

Q: How do you rate the standard of accommodation in Kenya?
A:  Very good.  However, town house complexes (on one or half an acre each) are fast replacing the old fashioned colonial houses with big grounds.  The rents are pretty high though.

Q: What’s the cost of living in Kenya compared to the UK What is cheap or expensive in particular?
A:  It’s different.  Rents are higher and are going up all the time. Say, $800 for an apartment, $2,000 per month for a self contained house.  There are no central heating costs (just the odd open fire), but electricity is pricey. You also need to pay for night security companies.

Q: What are the locals like; do you mix mainly with other expats?
A:  We mix with expats and locals through work, schools etc.  It’s a pretty dynamic scene if you want it to be.

Q: Was it easy meeting people and making friends?
A:  Yes, but mainly because I arrived with small children.  School & kids play dates tends to help cement friendships early.  When we first moved to Tanzania with no kids it was harder to find friends.  Getting a job helped.

About working in Kenya

Q: Did you have a problem getting a work visa/permit?
A:  This is an agonising process.  Work permits run for two years and can be costly ($2,500-$3,000), but you have to have one to live here for longer than three months (on a tourist visa) or do any kind of work.  Accompanying family members are each put on dependent passes.  There are many different kinds of permits with a strong emphasis on investment and training-up locals.  Being a bureaucratic place, the whole issue is a minefield with a lengthy application process (can take months to wait for approval).  You even need a work permit to do unpaid volunteer or charity work here.

Q: What’s the economic climate like in Nairobi, is there plenty of work?
A:  Nairobi is booming.  The set back of the 2007/early 2008 election was a fairly major blip and also tourism fluctuates with changes in the world economy and more specific travel advisories occasionally issued for Kenya.  However the banking, building, industry, communication sectors continue to thrive ..... fingers crossed!  Nairobi is also a regional hub for many aid organisations.

Q: How does the work culture differ from home?
A:  It’s more polite, less aggressive.  Clients/colleagues/heads of businesses show one another respect.  Work/life balance is better too.

Q: Did a relocation company help you with your move?
A:  No, we managed on our own pretty well.

Family and children

Q: Did your spouse or partner have problems adjusting to their new home?
A:  No, we realised we were pretty lucky straight away!

Q: Did your children settle in easily?
A:  Yes.

Q: What are the schools in Kenya like, any particular suggestions?
A:  Very good prep/primary schools up to the age of 13.  The field narrows a bit at secondary.  Some expats send their kids back to UK for secondary school (expensive), or down to South Africa (less expensive but a different Matric system).

Q: How would you rate the healthcare in Kenya?
A:  There are lots of private hospitals and in any given situation; it’s possible to get a local GP’s advice on who is the best surgeon/doctor in a particular field.  Tropical medicine and testing locally is fast and efficient.  However, in an accident situation, many expats do have medi-vac insurance so they can fly down to South Africa or to the UK for more advanced doctoring and technologies.

And finally…

Q: Is there any other advice you like to offer new expat arrivals?
A: Keep an open mind.  Learn some Swahili – it helps understand the culture a bit too and everyone locally appreciates the effort.

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