What My Finnish Friends Know About Kenya 🇫🇮🇰🇪

[@ainoluo]

One thing Kenyans and Finns have in common is that they both are very interested in what others have to say about them 😂 🇫🇮🇰🇪 So, if you have a question about Finland, drop it down below or even send me a video or voice note on Instagram @theainoluo and I’ll feature it in a future video! 🌞

[@arcticpolyglots]

One similarity that probably needs to be mentioned is that Kenya and Finland are both successful in long distance running. However Finland's success ended long time ago, but Finland is still number 1 in the statistics for most gold medals and total medals in men's 10.000m and 5000m in the Olympic history. In 10.000m the top 3 are Finland, Ethiopia and UK and in 5000m the same order Finland, Ethiopia and UK. One Kenyan person that probably every sports nerd knows in Finland is Julius Yego, the javelin thrower who actually has a Finnish coach, Petteri Piironen. He shocked everyone including me in the World Championships in 2015 by winning gold. Javelin throwing is really popular in Finland so I know that all my friends who follow track and field know him. Especially those with whom I did track and field as a teenager.

[@ainoluo]

@@arcticpolyglots Hahaa love this sports nerding! Finns btw do well in Safari Rally that takes place in Kenya 🏁🏎️💨

[@Dok2023]

😂😂 a strange match.

[@Dok2023]

​@@ainoluotrue. Finland has very good racing drivers both for Safari Rally and Formula One. Hakinnens are many.😂

[@ainoluo]

@@Dok2023 Their names are just always misspelled on TV because of our weird letters 😭 Häkkinen, Räikkönen 😄🏁

[@cheelenny4905]

I'm Kenyan and your new subscriber just because of how you explained everything❤ . Enjoy Kenya

[@ainoluo]

Karibu! 🌞🇰🇪

[@raandit471]

Juha Kankunnen was a Kenyan household name sometime back. Won the WRC Safari Rally Kenya round a number of times!

[@ainoluo]

I had drawing paper in kindergarten with his upper body at the top and I used to always draw the lower part, usually with a skirt. 🙃

[@itsvipi]

And his navigator Juha Pironnen, with their rally car, the Lancia Delta Integrale.

[@alvinmaina5508]

Fantastic video! The most interesting part of this was getting to hear what other people from across the pond think of Kenya, and I gotta admit, Kenyans can get rather passionate when it comes to defending the country, shoutout KOT, but you're very good articulating yourself and it was balanced take IMO.... but there's nowhere else I'd rather be than Nairobi

[@ainoluo]

Thanks for your comment! And yes Kenyans can be a bunch of bees and you gotta be careful to not poke their hive too much 😂 🐝 I gotta say both Kenyans and Finns are extremely interested in what other people have to say about them!

[@ActionLabInFocus]

Is it me or everyone else is noticing how you are glowing nowadays😂. Kenya is really treating you well

[@ainoluo]

Awww made my day 🫶🏻 Maybe it’s my new skincare 😂

[@HumbledEngineer]

Thanks for the good PR of our country

[@danielmuchi8196]

Just bumped on your page 🇰🇪

[@ainoluo]

Welcome welcome! 🌞

[@mainajohnny9655]

Asante! Hope you enjoy the fine weather in Kenya, I'm a Kenyan living in Stockholm and travel to Suomi several times a year.🤩🤩

[@ainoluo]

Weather is one of the best things here 😁 Although I kinda enjoyed the minus 20 degrees when I was last back home! 🥶

[@Moses.m]

Growing up, I used to see products written made in Finland, what popular products are manufactured in Finland? Thank you for the insights between the two countries.

[@ainoluo]

Hmm will need to look into this, will try to cover in my next video! Not exactly sure where manufacturing has happened but some world famous products would be Nokia phones, Kone elevators and escalators, and some glass and steelware!

[@Moses.m]

@@ainoluo True, We still have kone around.

[@annaogusini7904]

Thank you

[@PalonaGeoffrey]

I would be interested to learn about the similarities and differences between Finnish and Swedish cultures and their political systems. I'm not entirely sure why I find these two countries so fascinating, but I've always been mesmerized by the geographical landscapes I encounter while playing Euro Truck Simulator. The game allows me to virtually drive through Norway to Sweden and Finland, offering glimpses of their stunning scenery and geographical features.....

[@ainoluo]

This is such a wholesome comment ☺️ Let me try to dig into this in a future video! 🇫🇮🇸🇪

[@FearlessAfrican]

​@@ainoluo I heard that Finnish and other Scandinavian are not ethnically related but only geographically. Is it true that Finnish are more related to Russians ethnically?

[@ainoluo]

@@FearlessAfrican If I am not wrong, the mother line of Finns comes from the east and the father line from the west. There is also a stark difference in the genetic makeup of Finns from east and west. There’s a lot of genetic research in Finland, quite fascinating stuff!

[@mwobobiasroundup]

Just subscribed, I am from Meru county in Kenya. We know a lot about Finland especially the legendary Juha Kankunnen the rally driver.

[@ainoluo]

Karibu! 🇰🇪🌞 Sports seems to connect ☺️

[@usa_kenyan]

I love cross-cultural observations. The other day I saw an Instagram reel of a Russian woman who lives in Nigeria. It was a humorous take on how she's become a Nigerian. It was fascinating because she confronted some stereotypes that people have about Russians. Anyway, I hope the future for Kenya brings a narrowing of the income gap and the environment gets even greener. Thanks for sharing.

[@ainoluo]

Yess pretty much my wishes for the future of Nairobi 🙏🏻 I saw a TikTok of a couple living in Finland, I believe they were from Russia and Nigeria, and they were telling about their challenges of having such an intercultural family in a third country, quite interesting! My boyfriend calls me Kikuyu all the time 😭😂

[@usa_kenyan]

@@ainoluo Next time your boyfriend calls you a Kikuyu tell him: "Atiriri, wacha mchezo." 😀

[@ainoluo]

I'll try! :D@@usa_kenyan

[@urbanuskandassociates]

Put the Kenyan flag on your titles and Kenyas will massively support

[@ainoluo]

Done! Let’s see if it summons more Kenyan supporters 😁

[@mediacare6744]

​@@ainoluo I was summoned!

[@ainoluo]

@@mediacare6744 yeeee karibu! 🇰🇪🥳

[@danielmuchi8196]

Actually after seeing my flag I automatically opened your page .

[@ainoluo]

@@danielmuchi8196 heeey karibu! 😁🇰🇪

[@blacksignaturevisuals694]

In 5 years nairobi have changed alot in terms of infrastructure , n there is soo much going on right now , all manner of constructions everywhere you turn , cant wait to see it in 20 years from now...

[@joowest]

You are doing well dear

[@muhammednurburka3516]

Well done

[@jurassic-ms5qp]

Very educational video. Aino Luo, what are your opinion on general Kenyan politics? What is the treatment you get from local people? Do you sometimes have thoughts of going back to Finland? Because of russian boarder do finland speak russian? Why does your flag together with your neighbours look alike? And why do they look like that? And what are the things that you think other Finnish will like if they visit kenya that is not in Finland?

[@ainoluo]

Love these questions, let me answer in the future video! ☺️

[@jurassic-ms5qp]

@@ainoluo Thank you

[@hk254lyt8]

I also hope we can improve on public transportation. Matatus are just not it in as much as they are visually appealing

[@ainoluo]

Hope they can still remain part of the scene while better functioning and more comfortable options come on the side!

[@PalonaGeoffrey]

A Must Watch... Let me get to it....

[@ainoluo]

Hope you enjoyed! 🌞

[@quaverjosephworld]

New subscriber🇰🇪

[@ainoluo]

Karibu! 🌞

[@patrickmuchesha5070]

Much love from Nairobi kenya

[@ainoluo]

Right back! 🫶🏻

[@haronmulati4962]

Wow that's awesome

[@PolooTremani]

Good clear explanation though

[@maxgamboltv9940]

Nice videos here, I sjust subscribed they can I have to make a video to answer some of the questions.

[@bryankibet1587]

Hmm,interesting perspective

[@canadacentre7268]

Thought for the mind ! I grew up there, KENYA. Went to STRATHMORE College. Then escaped Myriads of Kenyan problems. Was in FINLAND, Visiting, what forests! I live in North America now. Never been to Kenya since! I can only say you are brave to live in chaotic Kenya! Be well and stay safe.

[@ainoluo]

Thank you, I’m doing my best to take care! Wanted to see something different and that I’ve definitely gotten, with both challenges and joys :)

[@TheTickingAges]

My godmother was from Finland so I can't wait to pay a visit soon.

[@ainoluo]

Amazing, hope you get to visit and have a wonderful time! ❄️🌞

[@TheTickingAges]

@@ainoluo Thank you I will try

[@RafaelGarciaYito_7131]

They are relocating staff from NYC headquarters to Nairobi, mostly people in the NGO’s. That’s what I’m hearing.

[@ainoluo]

Yeah another person in the comments said as many as 22,000

[@catherinecherop6385]

Sustainable urban planning is non negotiable for Nairobi 😢

[@ainoluo]

Let me on the drawing board! 🤓🌳🚊

[@clipcity4242]

BRT system is to be introduced in Kenya

[@ainoluo]

I waited to get onboard on that project for a couple of years…

[@clipcity4242]

@@ainoluo I know and it sucks....The amount of greed among our leaders is unquenchable....But I hear it's back on track with the latest loan acquisitions....

[@freedomm]

It's funny how perceptions of the same place can differ. For example, I went to University in Europe (UK, France and Italy, not Finland 😊). And I can say without a doubt that I'd rather be middle class in Kenya than middle class in Europe. I feel my life is better here.

[@ainoluo]

That’s definitely interesting! Would you like to elaborate what makes it better for you in Kenya?

[@freedomm]

@@ainoluo Oh, I'd need a whole video to explain that, but since we're limited for space here, I'll just mention the main one: In Kenya, life is a bitter struggle if you're poor (which unfortunately so many people still are) but if you're at least middle class, your quality of life can improve exponentially. European governments provide superior public services for their populations such as universal health coverage and efficient transportation, but that's where it ends for me. Here, I was able to acquire a decent-sized house, on a decent-sized plot of land, that provides me with the space, privacy and greenery I need and was able to employ full time help for both the house (cooking and cleaning) and the compound (gardening). I would have to be an actual millionaire to live this kind of lifestyle in Europe. In Europe, we had to live in what to me seemed like endless structures of dank, cramped, regimented apartment systems all with similar rules that after the excitement of the first year, started to seem soulless to me. Life felt so engineered. And being visibly foreign can elicit endless micro-aggressions from both strangers and civil servants. Granted I got very homesick in my last years there. Important to understand my aim isn't to compare and declare one place better, but just to point out how the environment in which we're raised informs our preferences. I'm biased in favour of Kenya because I was raised here. You, on the other hand, think Kenya would be much better in future if it looked more and more like Finland. Personally, I'm not opposed to progress, but I think it would be a shame if Kenya became exactly like Europe. After living there, I really hope that doesn't happen.

[@ainoluo]

@@freedomm Thank you for such a thorough answer, I was genuinely curious! 🌞 You put it so well and yes I feel like this could be a video topic - perhaps I’ll talk about it! I totally see what you mean and agree with the good points you mentioned about middle class lifestyle in Kenya. I’m not able to enjoy the kind of lifestyle you mentioned here in Kenya but there are certain perks such as affordable delivery of any item that I frequently use. It’s true I don’t see myself affording a big house in a green environment with house help in Finland - instead, hope I don’t express myself too rough - I would get a sense of safety and not need to put myself in a golden cage, functioning transport and not needing to be stuck in traffic in my big car, electricity that doesn’t cut, free education for my children, not everyone calling me for money all the time because government would take care of them, exactly the public services you talked about. It might be because the closest Kenyans to me have lived that life of bitter poverty that I see the things the way I see. And pole sana for the micro-aggressions, it must have been tough mentally! I also experience this (although some aggression can’t be called micro) on a weekly basis here.

[@freedomm]

@@ainoluo No, thank YOU! It's such a pleasure watching your journey on this channel.This is the advantage people like you and I, who've lived both experiences, have. We can make informed observations based on our experiences and we both understand there is no such thing as the perfect country. The perfect place is an unattainable myth. I think it speaks to your character that your Kenyan circle isn't privileged given, as you've stated, the class divisions in this country can be jarringly stark and most Western expats tend to gather away from the poorer areas. You, on the other hand, are forming real relationships with people who would otherwise have little chance of ever encountering foreign individuals and cultures. I think that lends you a unique perspective. Kudos! 👏🏾 Being a relatively young country (both historically and demographically) Kenyans have reason to be optimistic about the future and will inevitably achieve all the things you've mentioned. Poverty (or wealth) isn't a permanent state. A young population may eventually prove more valuable in the long run than currency reserves, What I'm hoping is we don't lose our soul whist in pursuit of "progress".

[@ainoluo]

@@freedomm Really appreciate your comment! ☺️ And I agree, that’s one of the beauties of living in this type of country, the dynamism and drive and optimism when people look into the future. I think that spirit can sometimes be missing in Europe!

[@Flaytt744]

i know very little about Finns..(More about the rest of Scandinavia), but i find them interesting. Their language is very different from Scandinavians.

[@ainoluo]

Yep in fact Finland is not part of Scandinavia at all, just the Nordic countries, or Fennoscandia - very different history, language, even bedrock - to the rest of the countries. But hundreds of years under the Swedish rule (or some have said colonialism) left its mark of course.

[@Flaytt744]

@@ainoluo thanks for the info..when i first visited Denmark, the language was definitely Anglo Saxon.

[@FreddieMatiba]

Just Subscribed to your KZbin Channel

[@ainoluo]

Karibu! 🌞🇰🇪

[@shawngames3074]

naeza pata kamtu from finland 🤫☺?

[@edwinaameso4435]

Kenya geographically is blessed with not only Mount Kenya but Mount Elgon access. It is also a country where the 8th wonder of the world can be experienced with the 'survival for the fittest' being put to test every season. Transportation, Matatus are the public transportation and Kendi Mutongi has done a history of it. Its a good read to familiarise yourself with it. Kenya has also been historically known as part of the cradle of mankind with Turkana being home to early homid species. Kenya is multi-ethnic and cornubations are the melting points for embracing interethnic and international cohesions at micro level. Kenya having been home to most refugees over the decades has witnessed a growth in more torelance for others and appreciation of those coming from other settings. The Indian case is very interesting as now, Kenyans can take pride on the connections of having key global leaders like Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tracing links back to Kenya. Harambee is a spirit of togetherness that has been the foundation pillar which allows people to come together to ensure collective efforts allow people to access services and goods from education to health and more.

[@ainoluo]

Much interesting info here! Question about matatus - how I understand public transportation is that it is a state / city / public institution provided service to the citizens, which I don't think matatus are as they are privately owned and unregulated? Correct me if I am wrong. Is Harambee similar to Ubuntu? Finns know Ubuntu as our very own PC operating system lol.

[@BS-kl9yf]

​@@ainoluovery correct. Many Kenyans don't know the difference. Matatus are the most chaotic means of transport that should be replaced with a civilised regulated system that is public. Just because they have graffitis a play loud music should not be a national pride 😅

[@PolooTremani]

As a Kenyan , that was brutal honest.

[@ainoluo]

That’s a very Finnish way to communicate - no sugar coating 🙈

[@PolooTremani]

@@ainoluo 😅

[@elizabethkaranja570]

❤welcome to Kenya 🇰🇪

[@ainoluo]

Asante sana! 🙏🏻

[@MemusiNaigoyek]

As the world shift from a unipolar world to a multipolar world, Nairobi will be a very develop city with fully develop transport system. A lot of businesses will have been established in the city and many Africans as well as foreigners from other parts of the world will be calling Nairobi home. Nairobi will be a mega city and one of the biggest in Africa. A multipolar polar world will enable Africa to develop faster as compared to a unipolar world which seems to favour the western world by enabling them to exploit African resources for their own development in the expense of global South which includes Africa and kenya. We are already witnessing that shift taking place and the global South will become more powerful and richer as exploitation by the global North will have been stopped and Africa which includes kenya will be allowed to trade fairly within the continent and the rest of the world without intimidation by the West.

[@ainoluo]

Love this! 🌞

[@princesenghor1881]

Kenya to the world 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@ainoluo]

I think in Finland many random people on the street would know about Nairobi, the safaris and the Maasai. The university of Helsinki has a research station in Taita Hills so many students even have a chance to visit. In Wuhan I was one of the only Finnish people in the city but in some areas of Nairobi I can’t spill secrets in Finnish because there might be someone around who understands 😂 I had many friends even studying Swahili in school.

[@godfreydesmund2789]

What is that one thing that you miss about Finland while you're in kenya

[@ainoluo]

Will answer this in a video soon! Meanwhile there is an older video on my channel where me and some other Finnish friends living in Kenya talk about the topic ☺️

[@Truehealthworld]

Kenya loves you

[@ainoluo]

And I love it right back ☺️

[@irenemulandu86]

I really love all your video ☺️ soooo interesting, i planning to come in Kenya for my Master’s degree, but i really need help for more information😩 please it’s possible to Is it possible to get in touch with you?🥺 thank youu for your time❤️

[@ainoluo]

Hi, thanks for watching my videos! :) My contact information can be found in the about section and video descriptions!

[@markorenge9840]

The religion thing is normal in hospitals even here Germany is the same is for the purpose of better service for nursing care majorly

[@ainoluo]

That’s interesting! My experience was literally more of an interrogation about details than a simple tick in the box tho… And well, the nursing care was terrible regardless, almost got my hand in necrosis and didn’t get washed for 3 days ✌🏻

[@CeEe_AaAa]

Kenyans love people regardless of where they come from. So long they respect our culture/kenya

[@ainoluo]

This made me think of xenophobia. I think what you wrote is a very common way to perceive things anywhere! I’d say a big portion of Finns are the same - how I read the room is that most anti-immigration arguments there seem to be based on fears of loss of Finnish culture and newcomers not respecting / trying to adapt to our ways (such as freedom of religion or following rules or schedules, which creates a high-trust society) and unfortunately I must say those fears are sometimes justified, having interacted with immigrants a lot since I was a child. I’m sure there’s also foreigners in Kenya that confirm some of the fears for Kenyans true, because I have certainly had my fair share of negative prejudice here and even met a few foreigners who don’t have respect towards local ways.

[@CeEe_AaAa]

@@ainoluo Respect 🙏

[@maureensawe]

I think we support and love Africans who take pride in being African (IYKYK). We do have some prejudice when it comes to Nigerians but as you've said, when you get to meet them in person, you realise what a stereotype it is.

[@ainoluo]

I've also heard a Kenyan say that Kenyans don't take enough pride on their culture and West Africans do a better job at that, so that kinda aligns with what you're saying!

[@RECOLONIZE_RIGHT]

I LOVE NIGERIANS... THE CHRISTIAN NIGERIANS

[@jimmiphilipo]

Kenya is geographically blessed by God. One of only five countries in the world where you can get 5 diverse geo-climatic conditions in the same country.

[@ainoluo]

There’s a lot to see for nature lovers 🌞

[@Gideonfinancial]

I am Ugandan, but I actually find Nigeria quite recommendable. I mean, their economy is the biggest in Africa, they have the biggest Afro- beat music reach than any African country, more foreigners from the west and Europe marry Nigerians more than any other African country. Nigerians are the most successful, or even most educated Africans in the diaspora. Their movie industry is the third biggest after Hollywood and Bollywood! In the whole world. I mean, we can go on an on. So, it really depends. Every country, no matter where you go has problems. People should focus more on the positive way, that's what matters.

[@ainoluo]

So I’ve both worked with and dated Nigerians and majority of the ones I’ve met have been either highly educated, fast-paced and ambitious people, or very mellow observer type of quiet ones - very rarely have I encountered the bad stereotype 😄 You point out the positives very nicely and I agree, that’s what we should see more in our fellow humans.

[@brian5238]

Interesting. I thought that South Africa, Egypt or Nigeria had the "biggest economy" in Africa?

[@williambenedict6074]

Please place the Kenyan Flag🇰🇪 on yah wallpaper KZbin uploads.. Then see what it gon happen.. Thank me later ❤

[@BusinessGuidesKenya]

Her name is Aino LUO my people there you go haha

[@ainoluo]

The Chinese chose my name well

[@BusinessGuidesKenya]

aah Nice..LUO People are coming for you ☺@@ainoluo

[@ainoluo]

@@BusinessGuidesKenya one already snatched me 🥰

[@BusinessGuidesKenya]

haha wow@@ainoluo

[@ericgathage6355]

🇰🇪

[@ainoluo]

🇫🇮🤝🇰🇪

[@likatalikata3823]

I agree on the need for public transport improvement in the next 20 years. But I'm not hopeful given that our public transport is captured by cartels who need the status quo to thrive. I wish I could see Nairobi with a working metro system but I know its a pipe dream.

[@ainoluo]

Yeah any type of rail would a dream, right! But maybe a BRT to start with :) 🚌🚏

[@Mr.KARANI]

Mmm! 😍🇰🇪🇰🇪 Thanks for marketing Kenya. We love you

[@ainoluo]

Haha anytime 😊🇰🇪🫶🏻

[@Mr.KARANI]

@@ainoluo 😂 Welcome 🤗. Now you can even travel more. You were so creative in this one👌🏾

[@ainoluo]

@@Mr.KARANI waiting for flight ticket money to drop from somewhere 😂✈️💸

[@gilbertwaiguchu749]

Kenya, Nairobi is very interesting and a beautiful place to be in. Better than N.Y.

[@ainoluo]

Never been to NYC but people seem to either love or hate it! For me the prices I’m seeing around there don’t make any sense 😳

[@tyris54]

Kisumu is the biggest city but Nairobi is the capital

[@ainoluo]

I meant most populous :)

[@vimtech]

Biggest in what manner?

[@Maweresistance]

😅

[@FearlessAfrican]

Kisumu? A joke taken too far!

[@kelvinmutethiambaya5766]

😂🎉

[@ainoluo]

Sherehe! 🥳

[@BMA19051]

luo you are beautiful

[@RECOLONIZE_RIGHT]

Do you want to be president of Kenya.. Assuming you have an ID..? What would you change in the government??? What I know about Finland is that they build better submarines than America ... Are finish people racist??

[@ainoluo]

Thanks, will include these in a future video ☺️

[@pietrojenkins6901]

Finland and Estonia ....who stole the national anthem tune from the other ?

[@ainoluo]

@@pietrojenkins6901 hahah ok let me research

[@mackjully7869]

Did she say "ghetto areas"

[@ainoluo]

I did, I have never heard anyone in Nairobi calling places like Kibera and Kawangware anything else but ghettoes (including people, such as my partner, from those areas). Is there a better term I should be aware of? As a European the word ghetto has a completely different meaning for me and I got taught “slum” in school to describe an overcrowded and underdeveloped urban area, but all I hear locals say here is ghetto.

[@ericgathage6355]

Definitely not Americans

[@ainoluo]

Our president studied there 😂 Maybe that’s why…

[@KimNja]

Please avoid using the word segregation. Segregation is hostile, and people are not allowed in certain areas and have no rights. Please look at nations that faced segregation and how people were treated. What happens in Kenya, which is not different from any other nation, is defined by economic status. Your social status defines how you mingle and where you reside.

[@ainoluo]

Segregation is a very commonly used term in urban planning which is my educational background, so I’m probably not using it in the context you’ve been introduced to the term. In my academic and work life, it literally just referred to people living in different areas for whatever reason, including economic status. In Finland the zoning policy tries to mix different types of apartments, including the ones within the sphere of social support, in different areas, thus preventing segregation. If the word has a different tone in Kenya it’s understandable but what you are describing is text book segregation in the context where I got my education. Obviously in different contexts and societies people hear same terms differently (think of “marriage”) but that doesn’t make one more correct than the other. Happy to hear a better term for Kenyan context if there is one.

[@KimNja]

@ainoluo thxs for your response. For people who have never visited Africa 🌍 that word will just fuel ⛽️ misconceptions about Africa or Kenya. Just like what media has managed to do over the yrs. We are busy as Kenyans and Africa at large, trying to fight the narrative that has been created by the West. Perhaps as you suggested, find a better way of explaining the social differences, etc. first time I have watched your channel am 🇰🇪 and living abroad . I will follow you. Kenyan are loving and welcoming. Enjoy your stay.

[@ainoluo]

@@KimNja Thanks! Always open for constructive feedback :) Explaining different contexts for people from different backgrounds is always a challenge.