Before I moved to Japan, I used to see posts on social media where people shared the strange and ignorant things they were told about African countries. I always thought people were just exaggerating or making jokes but after living here for a while, I’ve had some experiences that truly surprised me. And honestly, I didn’t know whether to laugh or be concerned.
Here are some of the most surprising things I’ve heard from people in Japan about Kenya:
1. “Kenya has trains?!”
One of my coworkers was shocked when she saw a TV program showing that Kenya has trains. She had the most confused look on her face when she asked me, “ Does Kenya have trains!”
She was genuinely surprised, and I was also surprised—surprised that this seemed unbelievable in this day and age. Kenya has had trains for many years. In fact, we even have a modern railway called the Standard Gauge Railway that connects major cities. Trains in Kenya are not new.
2. “But Kenya is hotter than Japan!”
Japanese summers are very hot and humid. I once complained about the summer heat here, and someone told me,
“But you’re from Kenya! Isn’t it hotter there?”
Many people think that all of Africa is extremely hot all the time, in their minds they probably only think of the Sahara Desert whenever an African country is mentioned. But that’s not true. Kenya has different climates depending on the region. Nairobi, where I’m from, is at a high altitude and has a mild climate. In fact, we don't experience extreme weather conditions, we have good weather throughout the year. Not all of Africa is desert or burning hot.
3. “I heard Kenyans don’t fly because they think the plane will fall from the sky.”
This one takes the trophy home, in fact, my jaw nearly dislocated from my face. A woman told me she heard that people in Kenya don’t fly because they are scared the plane will fall from the sky.
I had to explain to her that Kenya has international airports, a national airline, and millions of people who travel by plane every year. I’ve personally taken many flights, both in and out of Kenya. I mean, I came to Japan on a plane.
4. “Nairobi is a big city?”
Some people are shocked when they learn that Nairobi is a big and modern city. I’ve done presentations about my country, and when I show the kind of architecture we have in Nairobi, I have seen the disbelief in people’s faces. I’ve had to explain that Nairobi has tall buildings, highways, shopping malls, tech companies, restaurants, and everything else you’d expect in a capital city.
It’s always strange to see how surprised people are when they realize that Kenya—and Africa in general—is not what they imagined.
At first, I didn’t know how to respond to some of these comments. I was surprised, but also a little amused. I realized that many people here only know about African countries from TV or old stereotypes. They don’t learn much about other parts of the world, and what they do learn is often inaccurate.
Now, I try to use these moments to teach and share more about Kenya. I believe that the more we talk about our countries and cultures, the more we can help others understand the truth—and move away from outdated ideas.
