Kenya - Trade Promotion and Advertising Kenya - Trade Promotion
Traditional forms of advertising via print, radio, and television remain the most widely used in the country. Most companies and organizations including the government are now adopting new ways of advertising over the internet and through social media platforms. Product complaints are now easily reported via various social media. Companies are increasingly setting up online pages and opening Facebook accounts to more easily access their customers. Kenya has several daily newspapers, with Daily Nation and The Standard being the main papers. Most newspaper companies also have online versions of their product.
Many leading international advertising agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, McCann Erickson, Publicis and Omnicom, and Young & Rubicam have local offices or affiliates in Kenya. Although there are no restrictions on importing ready-to-use advertising materials, U.S. firms should consult closely with locally-based advertising firms to obtain leads on accepted advertising norms and adapt material to fit local preferences and values, including translation into target languages such as Kiswahili. Kenya has 42 different ethnic groups, and radio and TV stations have vernacular sub-stations and programs that cater for these groups. Advertising on radio is often translated to fit some of the major tribes.
The U.S. Commercial Service Kenya assists American companies conduct market promotion through organizing workshops or technical seminars.