Ever sat in a waiting room, sweating in your best suit, wondering what crazy question the interviewer will throw at you? We’ve collected the top 10 most hilarious and utterly strange job interview stories from across Kenya.
From being asked to sing to encountering a panel eating nyama choma, these real experiences show the wild side of the Kenyan job hunt. It’s a reminder that sometimes, you just have to laugh.
What Makes This List
This isn’t about standard interview questions. We hunted for stories that are genuinely funny, shocking, or so bizarre you won’t believe they happened here in Kenya. These experiences stand out because they highlight the unique, sometimes unprofessional, and often culturally specific situations Kenyan job seekers face. They are ranked for their sheer entertainment value and their ability to make you think, “Kwani, this really happened?”
1. The Interviewer Who Asked for a “Kitu Kidogo”
Imagine finishing an interview, feeling confident, only for the HR manager to lean in and whisper a request for a small facilitation fee to “grease the wheels.” This shocking demand turns a professional process into a corrupt transaction. It’s not just bizarre; it’s an outright solicitation for a bribe.
This sadly reflects a real underbelly of some Kenyan private sector and even public service recruitment, where unscrupulous individuals exploit desperate job seekers. Stories circulate in Nairobi and Mombasa about being asked for anything from KES 5,000 to “lunch” for the panel to secure the job.
Always remember: a legitimate company will never ask for money. Report such requests to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
2. The Panel That Conducted the Entire Interview in Sheng’
You prepared for formal English and maybe some Swahili, but the entire panel, including the CEO, decides to grill you exclusively in deep, street-level Sheng’. This tests not just your skills but your cultural fluency and ability to think on your feet in a rapidly evolving urban language.
This is a reality in many Nairobi-based startups and creative agencies aiming for a “cool” and relatable brand image. They want to see if you can connect with the youthful, urban market on their own terms, making language a bizarre but critical interview tool.
Brush up on common Sheng’ phrases related to business and tech. It shows you’re tuned into the local youth culture and its communication styles.
3. The “Are You Married?” Interrogation for a Female Candidate
A female engineer reported being asked not about her portfolio, but a rapid-fire series of personal questions: her marital status, plans for children, and who would care for them. The interview focused entirely on her potential family life rather than her professional capability.
Despite being illegal under Kenyan labour laws, this blatant gender discrimination persists, especially for women in their late 20s and 30s. Many Kenyan women in fields like finance, engineering, and law have faced this line of questioning, which wrongly assumes family commitments hinder performance.
Know your rights. Questions about marriage, pregnancy, or family planning are prohibited and a major red flag about the company’s culture.
4. The Spiritual Compatibility Test
Before discussing the role, the interviewer asked the candidate to name their church, how often they attend, and if they would be comfortable with morning prayers at the office. The job offer seemed contingent on religious alignment rather than merit.
This is common in many faith-based organizations and some family-owned businesses in Kenya, where corporate culture is deeply intertwined with the owner’s beliefs. It creates a bizarre scenario where your spiritual resume matters as much as your professional one.
Gauge the company’s culture beforehand. If faith is a core part of their operations, decide early if that environment is right for you.
5. The Impromptu Sales Pitch to the Office Cleaner
The candidate for a marketing role was given a random office item—a stapler—and told to immediately sell it to the cleaner who was mopping the floor. This high-pressure, absurd test was meant to evaluate raw persuasion skills and thinking under pressure.
This “gotcha” tactic is loved by some aggressive sales companies in industrial areas like Nairobi’s Enterprise Road. They believe it separates the fearless go-getters from the rest, putting candidates in a wildly uncomfortable and unrealistic scenario.
Embrace the absurdity. Use it to showcase creativity and humour, turning a bizarre test into a moment to demonstrate quick thinking and people skills.
6. The “Who Do You Know Here?” Networking Interview
The interview lasted two minutes. After a glance at the CV, the executive simply asked, “So, who connected you to me?” and “Which clan are you from?” The conversation ended when the candidate had no “connection” to offer.
This highlights the frustrating reality of nepotism and tribalism in some sectors, where your surname or network can matter more than your qualifications. It’s an open secret in certain government parastatals and family-run businesses across the country.
While disheartening, it clearly signals a toxic work environment. You likely dodged a bullet where merit is not valued.
7. The Lunch Interview That Was Just Lunch
The candidate was taken to a fancy restaurant at a top Nairobi hotel, ordered an expensive meal, and the “interviewer” spent the entire time eating and discussing football. Not a single job-related question was asked before the bill came.
This bizarre scenario sometimes happens with disorganized or unprofessional start-ups, where the line between casual networking and a formal process is blurred. The candidate is left confused, having gained no insight into the role but a full stomach.
Politely steer the conversation back to the role. Prepare a few questions to ask them, turning a strange lunch into a professional conversation.
8. The Ghost Interview Panel
The candidate walked into a room with five empty chairs and a speakerphone. For thirty minutes, they answered questions from faceless voices over a crackly line, speaking to an empty room. It was impersonal, awkward, and deeply unsettling.
This reflects cost-cutting measures or poor planning by some multinational companies with regional heads based outside Kenya. It shows a lack of respect for the candidate’s time and effort, reducing a human interaction to a disembodied conference call.
Treat it like a normal interview. Speak clearly to the phone, and address your answers to “the panel” despite the strange setting. Maintain your professionalism.
9. The Reverse Interview Where They Pitched to You
Instead of being questioned, the candidate was given a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation on why they should join the company, including unrealistic growth projections. The interviewer seemed desperate to fill the role with anyone willing.
This is a major red flag often seen with newly launched pyramid schemes or shaky SMEs in towns like Thika or Nakuru. The over-the-top pitch, often promising quick riches, is designed to lure in candidates rather than assess them, indicating high turnover and instability.
Listen critically. An employer should vet you, not sell you a dream. Extreme desperation from their side is a warning sign.
10. The Cultural Dance Ice-Breaker
As part of a “group interview,” candidates were told to stand up and each perform a traditional dance from their community to “showcase confidence and team spirit.” Professionals in suits found themselves attempting Kikuyu mugithi or Luo ohangla moves on the spot.
This cringe-worthy attempt at forced cultural bonding is sometimes used by companies trying too hard to appear “fun” and inclusive. It puts candidates from less demonstrative cultures at an awkward disadvantage and confuses performance with professional aptitude.
Participate with good humour if you can, but know that a serious company evaluates you on your skills, not your dance moves. It’s okay to feel it was unprofessional.
How to Handle Your Own Bizarre Interview Moment
These stories show that the Kenyan job market can throw some truly unexpected curveballs your way. While hilarious in hindsight, they highlight real pitfalls and unprofessional practices you might face.
First, trust your instincts. If something feels off, like a request for money or overly personal questions, it probably is. Prepare by researching a company’s reputation on sites like Glassdoor or through networks on LinkedIn. If you encounter outright discrimination or corruption, know you can report it to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) via their official portals.
Staying informed and knowing your rights turns a potentially awkward situation into a moment where you confidently assess if the company is right for you, saving you from a toxic work environment down the line.
The Bottom Line
Job hunting in Kenya can be a wild ride, filled with moments that are equal parts frustrating and funny. The main point is that while you can’t control the bizarre questions or unprofessional panels, you can control your response. Your preparation, awareness of your rights, and ability to keep your cool are what truly matter.
Share your own strange interview story with friends or online—laughing about it is the first step to taking its power away and helping others navigate the same choppy waters.
Frequently Asked Questions: Top 10 Funniest & Bizarre Job Interviews Experiences in Kenya
Which of these bizarre experiences is the most common for Kenyan job seekers?
The “Are You Married?” interrogation for women and the “Who Do You Know Here?” question are, unfortunately, very common. They reflect deep-seated issues of gender bias and nepotism that many applicants face regularly.
While the crazier stories make headlines, these subtle forms of discrimination happen in offices every day and can be just as damaging to a fair hiring process.
Do these experiences vary by location within Kenya?
Absolutely. The high-pressure sales pitches are more common in Nairobi’s industrial and startup hubs, while the focus on tribal or clan connections can be more pronounced in certain county government and family-business circles.
The cultural context shifts, but the underlying theme of unprofessionalism remains. Urban centres might see more “Sheng'” interviews, while rural areas may have more direct familial inquiries.
What is the first thing I should do if an interviewer asks for a bribe (“kitu kidogo”)?
Politely but firmly decline. Do not promise any payment, even if you think it might secure the job. Your immediate action should be to end the interview and leave.
Afterwards, document everything—the company name, interviewer’s details, and the exact request. You can report this anonymously to the EACC through their website or hotline. A real job should never cost you money.
Are younger or older job seekers affected differently?
Yes. Younger applicants in the tech and creative spaces are more likely to face the “Sheng'” interview or absurd tests, while mid-career professionals, especially women, face the brunt of discriminatory questions about family planning.
Older candidates might encounter more ageism disguised as questions about “energy” or “fitting in with a young team,” which is another form of bias not covered in this list.
Where can I learn more about my rights in a Kenyan job interview?
Start with the Employment Act and resources from the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE). Their websites outline what questions are legally off-limits and the proper recruitment procedures.
For specific complaints, the Labour Office in your county can provide guidance. Knowing the law is your best defence against these bizarre and unfair practices.
