Christmas decorations in a Kenyan middle-class household. The tree is an artificial tree which is sold cheaply in supermarkets. In the past, people in Kenya used cypress trees, but that tree is no longer easily available.
The Kenyan festive season
by Eric Bosire • 4 January 2024
The festive season in Kenya normally starts on Christmas day, the 25th December through to 1st January of the following year. Schools, universities and Cooperate world closes down during this period, however government and a few private entities continue to provide essential services. There is a beehive of activities that include: people traveling upcountry to gather with their loved ones, others traveling to holiday destinations in and out of the country, and a lot of shopping. It is a joyous period, because those who have not seen each other for a long period of time get a chance to meet.
There are some similarities with other countries in the way Christmas is celebrated in Kenya, such as singing carols, church services and feasting. Traditionally, goats and chicken are served with ugali1, chapati2 and rice, depending on everybody’s choice.
Most Kenyans decorate their houses with balloons and flowers, and they put up a Christmas tree with tinsel and lights. Even if for some people, a tree is expensive. Because it’s a tradition, many people feel that without a tree, it’s not really Christmas. The festive season is a fantastic period in Kenya, because the weather is awesome, with minimal rains or no rain at all.
Along with Christmas, Kenyans also observe boxing day, which is the day after Christmas. The social activities of feasting and merry making continue. It is also a day that people visit one another in their homes to share gifts and other things.
On December 31st, Kenyans welcome the new year with church services at night. In some parts of the country, fireworks are lit and the secular people welcome the new year in night clubs with songs and dance, the celebrations continue past dawn and into the new year’s day 1st January.
I met a Kenyan parent Mr. Oduor, a father of three who shared a little experience about the festive season. He started by saying that Kenyans celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in different ways. “people do all sorts of things to depict remembrance of the birth of Jesus and it is a pity that, some of the things done are not in line with the will of God. People party into the night drinking alcohol and dancing to secular music in night clubs,” said Oduor. Jesus was born to save the world from sin and reconcile man to God. Therefore, it baffles Mr Oduor that people celebrate his birth by sinning.
Mr Oduor quickly noted that not everyone is involved in partying in night clubs, on Christmas day, families go to church to give thanks and later enjoy a meal and soft drinks at home while making merry. On boxing day, which is a day after Christmas, festivities continue people visit other relatives in the village for those who have traveled upcountry to share together what they have.
During the festive season, a lot of money is spent on food commodities, fuel and partying. As our Kenyan culture has it, people travel from the urban areas to the rural areas to be with their parents and other siblings. The matatus3 take advantage of the high season and hike the bus fare in order to get more profits. With the high number of people traveling upcountry, sometimes the matatus become scarce, which makes transport more chaotic because people are forced to go back to their houses and try their luck the following day.
Oduor said that a lot of money is spent during the festive period on food items, fuel and public transport among other things. “In our Kenyan culture, people belonging to one family converge at their rural homes to celebrate Christmas. Which is a good thing because of the busy job schedules and living far from one another, people do not get time to meet throughout the year,” he said.
With the movements, people must spend, the rise in fuel prices it makes it even worse. During this period bus fare to the rural areas shoots up due to the high demand. “Transportation becomes three or more times the normal bus fare charged on a normal or regular day in doing so passengers are forced to dig dipper in their pockets,” said Oduor.
The issue that comes with spending unwisely during this season is that January awaits. In January schools, universities and colleges do open after a long break. “Those that didn't save for January and dwelt on the heavy spending in December normally find themselves in hot soup. The irony of it all is that during the festive season, it's all laughter, joy and happiness but when it comes to January, things take a drastic change because various bills have to be paid," said Oduor.
Kenyans have nicknamed the month of January as ‘Njaanuary’: ‘njaa’ is hunger in swahili and so ‘njaanuary’ depicts hunger in January. “It is period that people experience hunger due to overspending during the festive period,” added Oduor.
According to Oduor, in the last 10 years or so, our country has strained economically. When we have an occasion like Christmas, everyone is hyped for the event. The high cost of living does not favor people, because food and fuel prices are too high. Since people don't want to be left out in the festivities, some end up borrowing and others go to an extent of stealing in order keep up. Some spend beyond their means. “People should develop a saving culture so that they are not in trouble come the festive season,” advised Oduor.
Another perspective on why there is always that contrast between the festive season and resumption of normal duties in January, was shared by Muthoni, a bachelor of commerce student. She said that Kenyans are living from hand to mouth. “The little they get, they spend it all immediately to take care of the basic needs. It is not enough to save,” she said. The many taxes imposed on Kenyans by the government does not make things better either, because it reduces what Kenyans earn by too much. “It is the Grace of God that sees Kenyan people through many occasions,” concluded Muthoni.
Next:
Village of origin
by Bosibori Osusu.
Notes:
1 Chapati is a type of unleavened flatbread commonly consumed in Kenya. back
2 Ugali is a Kenyan delicacy made from maize flour. back
3 A matatu is a minibus. Matatus play an important role in Kenya as a form of privately-operated public transport. back
About the author:
Eric Bosire is a Kenyan Journalist. He is based in Kisii.
About the image:
Photo by Steve Makori.
Suggested citation:
Eric Bosire: The Kenyan festive season. MissionField News (ISSN 2813-2270)
https://missionfield.news/2024/1_Festive_season
2024-01-04.