Originally Posted by
Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas
I've never been to Kenya but I've lived and worked in Angola, which is somewhat comparable. It seems extremely risky to drift to Kenya without a work contract, a place to stay and an insured car. I would never have gone to Luanda if I hadn't had all this guaranteed. Sub-Saharan Africa is not the same as Europe, nor does it work in the same way that you can afford to think of these things as trivial or undecided once you get there. Be prepared for a tremendous culture shock. People will notice if you're lost or disoriented newcomer and take advantage of you, especially if you don't have anyone to guide you through your first steps. Believe me when I say that everyone (and that includes the public sector and the police) will try to exploit or scam you at the first opportunity. In Africa everything works on the basis of briberies and you'll realize that if you want something done, you'll have to resort to them.
Also don't think that because these are extremely poor countries that the cost of living is cheap, because it's usually the opposite, the cost of living is usually the same or higher than developed European capitals unless you're willing to eat in street "restaurants" along the road without any sanitation or do your groceries shopping in open-air street markets with no control or sanitation as well (and people will always give you a much higher price because you're a foreigner, you will have to find some local to do the shopping for you if you want fair prices). You'll always be seen as a walking wallet and that also explains why so many women are interested. The same thing happened to me in Angola, I was often approached by women in a way that was almost annoying. If you don't mind living in doubt as to whether someone really likes you or just saw an opportunity for a better life, then go for it but personally I think that going to Kenya because of women is rather dodgy.