A Kenyan consumer’s guide to tipping
It is not a very ‘Kenyan’ habit. For that reason, here is everything you need to know about tipping.
Rumor has it that the word TIP stands for To Insure Promptitude or Performance – that is, a token you give to ensure or acknowledge good service. Accounts say that tipping began sometime in the Middle-Ages, when the master of the house would give his servants a few coins for good will or as compensation for extra work. Soon after, aristocrat guests at English mansions were expected to give a ‘vail’ – which is a word that means a ‘tip’ as in ‘to lower, take off one’s hat as a sign of respect or submission’ – to valets, footmen and other domestic staff upon their departure.
The practice soon spread to hotels, restaurants and pubs and crossed the ocean to America after the civil war in the late 19th century. It was how newly rich Americans showed they had been abroad and that they were accustomed to ‘genteel’ rules. There’s every reason to believe that tipping spread to the African continent in the same way – through the spread of western culture.
Do Kenyans tip?
After having a cup of tea with a relative, we rise from the table and as we are walking out of the door, the relative signals that I have forgotten my change. The look on his face when I explain that it’s a tip indicates that he thinks I am either too stupid or too rich “But you have already paid for the meal?” he states. “That’s for the waitress, for the service.” I explain. “But isn’t that why she gets a salary, for serving us?” He is genuinely stunned. He does not understand why he has to give money in addition to the price of the meal. It is not part of his social custom.
Unlike countries like the United States and some parts of Europe where tipping is expected, the rules in Kenya are not so black and white. Those in the service industry argue that apart from some patrons in upscale and urban establishments, a majority of Kenyans either do not tip or are not ‘good’ tippers. Basically, service staff in Kenya is happy when they get a tip, but they don’t necessarily expect it as a requisite for service – at least not in the self-assured way a waitress in New York would. In addition, the further away you get from upscale and urban circles, the more foreign the concept of tipping becomes.
To tip or not to tip
Tip friendly clients do it not only because it is a form of social etiquette, but they also reckon it is a way to help low wage workers supplement their pay. But not everyone is sold to the altruistic intent. Those who call for the abolition of tipping claim that it keeps service people poor by allowing their employees to pay them even less (because they are getting tipped after all).
Besides that, it is observed that clients tip in a discriminatory manner (according to gender, appearance etc.) and not necessarily on the quality of the service. Above all, not everyone likes the fact that they are expected to tip – stating that this expectation has made tipping less of a way to be generous and more of a way to avoid guilt or disapproval or to build up one’s ego.
Even in America, the most tip friendly country on earth, there is a rise in anti-tip rhetoric, most of it claiming that gratuity is a means to create a servant class – who have to work extra hard to prove they are satisfying customers and in so doing, appear to beg for change.
Not ‘Whether’ but ‘How much’
In Kenya, we have not gotten far into the tipping custom as to start discussing whether to ban it or not. Perhaps the conversation in the Kenyan context is whether we should be better tippers, or in the very least, whether we should start tipping.
Those opposed to tipping say that if laborers need more money, their employers should probably pay them more, not make them ‘beg for change’. This might be well and good, but it might also translate to additional service charges – which means the consumer ends up with a higher bill. It is worth to note that not all establishments share the service charges with the service staff.
Pro-tippers feel that Kenyans could be more appreciative for services rendered by minimum wage workers – that it is a practice that makes for good karma for the giver and the receiver.
Whichever camp one is in, the agreement is that the quality of service one receives should not be dependent on whether they tipped or on the amount they tipped – otherwise this begins to resemble a backhander. A tip is only supposed to be a voluntary token of appreciation – more of an incentive than a bribe.
If you decide to tip, here are some basic rules
How much should I tip?
- Standard tipping rates are usually 10-20 percent of the entire bill. Tip amount depends on service and establishment quality (correct and prompt order, courtesy, ambience etc.)
- If someone goes out of their way (e.g. a plumber who comes in for an emergency) always tip regardless of the bill. If you overstay your time at a table, tip twice the expected amount.
Who should I tip?
- Always tip waiters, bartenders, taxi drivers, hairstylists, massage therapists, yard maintenance crew, hotel and house keepers, bell hops, doorman, movers, home delivery (laborers in general).
- Even with abysmal service, rules dictate leaving a minimal amount, especially if you are a regular. If there’s a service charge on your bill, a tip may not be expected, but it’s nonetheless appreciated.
When should I NOT tip?
- There are some company policies that do not allow tipping – so do your research to avoid awkwardness and misunderstanding.
- Remember, in some settings (for example with government officials), a tip could be mistaken for a bribe.
Be discreet while issuing a tip – you are thanking someone with a small token of appreciation and your generosity is negated if you make a big deal out of it.
Rachel is a prolific Kenyan writer, with over 15 years’ experience in the print media industry and has been part of editorial teams in major publications. Her specialties are health, community development, children and women’s affairs, global current affairs and lifestyle. She currently runs a content and creative consultancy outfit and holds an almost full-time gig at Kenya’s leading Newspaper, The Nation. When she is not creating content for her clients and has finally caught up with newspaper deadlines, she can be found at home reading or trying to (finally) work on her ‘Great African Novel’.