How is working culture at Kenya...?

most kenyans work 8am to 5pm,mon to friday
can also work half day on saturday

Thanks Deep,

Your reply is somewhat motivating but few of my friends staying here have reservations about work culture.

No offence but I never heard from any source that there is any 5 days working thing at Nairobi.

Is it?


Regards

thats what is in kenya you can consult with your employer on work days and hrs

here for locals, work time is, 8 or 9 to 12 and 2 to 5, so people call it as 9 hours working, hahaha according to my experience they work according to the above mentioned time from monday to thursday and friday would become halfday, coz its a weekend. But we as a foreigners, have to work over time and sometimes on weekends, Coz we are paid more allowance than the locals. So you just confirm about the work timings and working days. Once after you come here they can make you do anything. Coz if someone is paying you 4.5 million dosent mean he is inviting you for vacation. They are calling you coz they are expecting more from you.

Hi.


Thanks Rohit & Suribhai,


One confusion I have, about the timing here for locals, work time is, 8 or 9 to 12 and 2 to 5, so people call it as 9 hours working, hahaha according to my experience they work according to the above mentioned time from monday to thursday and friday would become halfday, coz its a weekend.

What it means, are you saying we need to be in office from 8am / 9am to 12 late night ?

& what is 2 to 5, is it am/pm or hours you r trying to mention...?

Heard about Saturday-Sunday as a weekend off, but you r saying that they consider even 'Friday' as weekend ....is it?

Kindly, if you don't mind make it more clear, in am/pm.

It's pretty much become confusing now.

Thanx & have a nice day.


Regards

some people who are lucky enough they come at 8, who are stuck in traffic they reach office at 9. untill 12 noon they work, 12:00 - 14:00 lunch and rest, 14:00 to 17:00 work time. mostly they kill time for tea, chat and other entertainment stuffs. On friday, hardly some people work in the office. This all is not only my opinion, its from all my friends who work in different companies here. Dont worry your time will come and you wil experience the work culture of highly paid people hehehe... enjoy...

As i mentioned your company people are not paying you for vacation in kenya, if they pay you so much, they expect much more from you. So your working time and weekends would be as same as the other indians working here. If you need money, forget about other things, only work work work....

With due respect to everyone, I dont know what companies most of us are working with, however I work with one of the biggest media organizations of East Africa and we work 8am-5pm (with 1 hour lunch break) only from Mon to Friday. There has not been a single Saturday that I had to work. I have more than 3 dozen expat friends and except those who are working in Ad agencies nobody works on a Saturday. Even the ones in Agencies work on Saturdays for Half day or for 3-4 hours.
The work culture again depends from company to company but lil bit of office politics and bureaucracy is everywhere and having worked in India, you wouldn't find it challenging. You might come across some bit of Racism at times but again that is very normal and quite contextual.
Overall haven't heard of companies that make u slog your ass off just cos ur an expat or an Indian. Everyone gets time to travel around in Kenya (Something which is not so common in India). You would definitely enjoy more in Kenya than any other place.

Thanx Suribhai & Socialiser.



That's really helpful.

Hii friends!!

i will also be coming in Aug 2012 to Nairobi for a job with an Indo-African company.
Job profile will be of R&D and New produt development.

How ever i have asked the HR person about the work, they said its ok. now what does that ok means..

Which area is best to live for ..we are just married Indian couple coming for job there.

Is there security threats in real at Nairobi.

What about racism,, is there any. Is there any Anti-Indian movement ??

guys please help

regards

Hello Mr Alekh Singh, I dont understand what you asked your HR and what OK he said.

For Indians, parklands is the best location, coz many Indians live there, you wont feel like you are out side india. many many indians are here.
Security depends on the place, where you stay.
NO Racism, no anti Indian movement. Nairobi is the best place in africa. More safer than other countries.

suribhai wrote:

Hello Mr Alekh Singh, I dont understand what you asked your HR and what OK he said.

.

Suribhai thanks for your response. I had had discussions with HR officials about work profile and workng hours. They said you got to perform and dont worry about work politics and anything like that. Its all ok.

I was just wondering how much INR we will be saving (...the cost of living )and about social life there.

Regards

Hi Alekh, Welcome to Expat.com!!!
I Agree on above comment by Suri, you should be more specific in terms of "OK".
And i must say, as i travelled to few countries, Kenya is far better and best thing about Kenya is that quickly you get into the environment n u will get a feel that you are not new to the place.
Regarding safety, its in your hands every where in the world there are dark sides, including developed countries. Places like Westlands / Parklands where you will find lot of Indians, which somtimes gives you an impression that, are U really out of your home land
So dont worry on Safety & Security.. Cheerz

Hmmm i agree with rohit bhai.
For working hours, you can consider it from 8AM -6PM, this time depends on office to office. Saturday workign day or holiday, depends on your company. coz for some companies its working day, for some half day, for some holiday. Regarding saving money, i dont know how much they offered you? send those details to my inbox. Then i can suggest weather you have to ask more or ask some things else.

my kenyans girlfriend  just got fired for not coming to wokr on a saturday, her indian boss was not too nice,.
but years ago when i wokred in many countries i was advised to move away  from my own nationalities and mix  with the locals,.parkland and westlands is like india,.eastleighs is like somalia,.i worry more and more about security in kenya,.
the length of time travelling to work  convinces me never to go to kenya  again for holidays or work,.dangerer roads and trucks/busses drivign all over the place,.and rip off taxi merchants,.,.cheer,,.

Dear all,

I want to know about tax rules at kenya.

is 'Non-cash component' part of salary (reimbursment of HRA, Utilities bill, Fuel bills etc) is also TAXED??

Regards

in continuation with last post ...

i will be coming to Nairobi for job. i will need Driving license at Nairobi /Kenya. Is Indian license acceptable at Nairobi.
What is the procedure to get the driving license at Nairobi.
Will it be better to have International driving license issued at India or to apply for fresh license at Nairobi.  how much time does it takes.

What if we employ a local driver, how much will it cost ?
Please help.

indian license  will work for 3 months. but meanwhile you can get one here, not a problem. In one day you will get temporary licence here, with that you can drive vehicle, later you wil get original in one or two months. not a problem, welcome to nairobi...

for local drivers depends on how long they wil work, from 9AM-6PM less roaming, 8,000-12,000Ksh, 9AM-6PM much roaming, may be less than 12,000-15000Ksh, if 8AM-9PM may be 20,000Ksh,

years ago i was told not to hang about with yoru own crowd, and always go abotu and mix with other cultures, u might as well stay at home if you do not mix,.
the scene for me in kenya is to change every day and expect total new experiences,.i wored in mid east and the arabs use treat whites liek shit,.
i had small business inb kenya and  coud not find no good workers with high integrity,.
but they are too good at talking and never live up to their promises,.get a girl friend with  a car and be decent to her,.but the figures kentioned here are carzy,.just crazy,.
i been parkland and west lands  , you better off mixing into other areas,.,.cheers,.

Guys,,

i am searching for 1 or 2 bed room flats furnished or un furnished with maximum budget of 90K KSH in Parkland/ westland area. Can any one please help to find me one.

we want safe place ..preferably with Indian community.

Regards