Kenya’s Silicon Savannah: A Legal and Business Superpower

Sometimes, life hands you a seed you never meant to plant, and before you know it, you’re standing in the shade of a tree you didn’t even know you needed.

That’s how our journey in Kenya began.

An Unexpected Start in Kenya.

We didn’t set out with a sweeping global strategy or an ambitious international playbook. When we first landed in Kenya in 2019, it was by accident more than intention. It was an unexpected opportunity that filled an immediate operational need. We didn’t realize then that this single step would evolve into one of our company’s most impactful decisions.

Overcoming Legal Hesitations.

As a lawyer, I’m trained to look for risk. It’s in our nature to be cautious, especially when it comes to things we don’t fully understand. I’ll be honest: I was hesitant.

Would our contracts align with local labor laws? Could we navigate compliance across multiple jurisdictions? Those concerns were real, but our Kenyan legal team quickly dispelled them. When entering any new global market, as we did with Kenya, hiring new employees brings about unknowns and questions to be tested and evaluated. For example, on the legal side, would the nuances of our contracts be understood? Would the handling of the complexities of our legal processes across multiple jurisdictions be a possibility?

Those initial concerns didn’t simply disappear. The performance, professionalism, and precision of our Kenyan legal team conquered them. They didn’t just meet expectations; they redefined them.

Excellence Across Teams

And it didn’t stop with the legal department. As our presence in Kenya grew, we expanded into testing, contracting, accounting, and HR; each time meeting with the same astounding results. Each team has brought a level of capability, creativity, and consistency that has made our global operations stronger, more resilient, and more thoughtful.

The testing team has impressed us with their diligence and depth, offering quality assurance that rivals (and in many cases exceeds) what we’ve seen in other markets. The contracting team has become a steady partner in keeping our legal frameworks tight, timely, and practical. The accounting team has added a layer of rigor and responsiveness that keeps our books accurate and our insights sharp. Our HR colleagues have helped us navigate complex interpersonal and cultural dynamics with grace, empathy, and professionalism.

The Bonus of Diversity

What makes it even more remarkable is that this excellence didn’t come with a compromise. It came with a bonus: diversity of thought.

Through working alongside our Kenyan colleagues, we’ve gained more than skilled professionals; we’ve gained new ways of thinking. We’ve gained a deeper appreciation for culture, geography, and human dynamics. We’ve had to learn about holidays of which we hadn’t heard, consider perspectives shaped by different histories, and adapt our communication styles to cross both distance and culture. Each of these adjustments and each learning curve has made us better.

A Strategic Advantage Building across borders isn’t a burden; it’s a strategic advantage. The challenges have taught us resilience. The differences have given us perspective. The distance has made us communicate more clearly.

Today, our Kenyan teams are not support but core to our workflows, planning, and decision-making. They are embedded in our work culture, driving our success in Silicon Savannah.

Personal and Professional Growth

Personally, I’ve gained colleagues whom I trust, respect, and genuinely enjoy working with. I’ve gained friends. I’ve gained a broader worldview. One that reminds me every day that talent isn’t confined to one country, one time zone, or one accent. It is everywhere if we are willing to see it.

I give full credit to our CEO, who had the foresight to take that first step into Kenya. It takes vision and courage to see potential before others do.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: sometimes your greatest superpower isn’t something you build, it’s something you discover. For us, that superpower was waiting for us in Kenya in the Silicon Savannah.