You’ve polished your CV, practiced your answers, but then the interviewer asks, “So, what do you know about our company?” That moment of truth is what we call the “What do you know about us” interview question. It’s a common but crucial test.
This guide breaks down how to research a company the Kenyan way, from checking their social impact to The local market. Knowing this can set you apart and show you’re truly invested, not just looking for any job.
Why Kenyan Interviewers Ask This Question
This question isn’t a memory test for their website’s “About Us” page. The interviewer wants to see if you understand their mission and how you fit into it. A common misconception is that they just want to hear you praise the company; actually, they want to see you’ve connected their goals to your own skills and ambitions.
Checking for Genuine Interest, Not Just Any Job
In a competitive market like Nairobi, employers want candidates who are specifically interested in their organisation. For example, if you’re interviewing at a fintech like Cellulant, don’t just say you know they do mobile payments. Mention how their work with merchants on platforms like Tingg aligns with your passion for financial inclusion in rural areas.
Assessing Your Research Skills and Initiative
Your answer demonstrates your ability to gather and analyse information. Did you just skim their LinkedIn, or did you look up their latest project, like a partnership with the Kenya Red Cross? Showing you know recent, specific details proves you have initiative and thorough preparation, which are highly valued traits here.
How to Prepare Your Answer the Right Way
Good preparation is more than a quick Google search. You need to dig deeper into the company’s Kenyan footprint and recent activities. This shows you’re serious and can think critically about your potential role within their local context.
Focus your research on these key areas:
- Their Core Mission & Recent News: Go beyond the homepage. Check Business Daily or Techweez for articles about their latest project or expansion in Kenya, like opening a new branch in Kisumu or a partnership with a SACCO.
- Their Products/Services in the Local Market: If it’s a bank, know their popular loan products. If it’s a retailer like Naivas, understand their customer base and recent initiatives, like their shift towards more local suppliers.
- Their Company Culture & Values: Look at employee reviews on Glassdoor Kenya and their social media. Do they emphasize community service? Mention their CSR work, like a beach cleanup in Mombasa or a tree-planting drive.
Structure your answer to connect their work to your skills. For instance, “I saw your company donated over KES 5 million to flood relief via the Kenya Red Cross this year, which aligns with my volunteer experience in disaster management.” This creates a powerful, memorable link.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Answer
Giving Generic, Outdated Information
Simply repeating that “Safaricom is the leading mobile network operator” is lazy. The interviewer heard that a thousand times. Instead, mention a specific, recent development, like their investment in Ethiopian operations or their new M-Pesa Super App features launched this year.
Focusing Only on the Company’s Size or Profits
Saying you want to work there “because it’s a big, successful company” shows you only care about prestige. Flip it. Talk about how their success in areas like fintech allows them to drive projects you admire, such as supporting smallholder farmers through DigiFarm.
Making Up Facts or Exaggerating
If you claim they have a branch in a town where they don’t, you’ll be caught immediately and lose all credibility. It’s better to honestly say, “I saw you’re expanding in Western Kenya, and I’m keen to understand your strategy there,” than to invent details.
Forgetting to Connect It Back to Yourself
The biggest mistake is delivering a monologue about the company and then stopping. Always bridge to your role. For example, “Your focus on sustainable construction at a firm like Bamburi Cement directly relates to my project management experience with eco-friendly materials.”
Kenyan-Specific Research Tips and Cultural Nuances
Your research needs a local lens. Kenyans value community and context, so your answer should reflect an of the company’s role within our society, not just its balance sheet. This cultural awareness can be your secret weapon.
First, always check the company’s engagement with local issues. Have they responded to recent events, like the floods or drought? Did they participate in a fundraising harambee for a local school? Mentioning this shows you see them as a Kenyan corporate citizen. Secondly, understand their market position relative to local competitors. If interviewing at a bank like Equity, know how their Group products differ from KCB’s or Co-op Bank’s offerings for SMEs.
A pro tip: Use the Business Registration Service (BRS) portal or the eCitizen business search to verify a company’s official registration and directors if you’re unsure about a newer firm. For larger corporations, read the comments on their Kenyan social media posts (Facebook is key here) to gauge public sentiment and recent customer service issues. This ground-level insight is gold and demonstrates next-level diligence that will impress any interviewer.
The Bottom Line
Mastering the “What do you know about us” question is about showing you’ve done your homework with a Kenyan perspective. It’s your chance to prove you’re not just looking for any job, but for a role within their specific mission in our market. This transforms a simple question into a powerful opportunity to connect.
Before your next interview, take 30 minutes to research one company you admire. Go beyond their website and find one recent, Kenya-specific piece of news about them to discuss. Share this article with a friend who’s also job-hunting—sawa?
Frequently Asked Questions About What Do You Know About Us Interview Question in Kenya
What if I can’t find recent news about the company in Kenya?
Look at their regional or global news and connect it to the local market. For example, if a tech firm launches a new product globally, discuss its potential impact for Kenyan users or how it compares to local solutions like M-Pesa.
You can also mention their general stability and reputation as an employer in Kenya, which you can gauge from platforms like Glassdoor or Kenyan career forums.
How much time should I spend researching a company before an interview?
Dedicate at least 1-2 hours of focused research. Spend 30 minutes on their official site and social media, and another hour digging for Kenyan news articles, press releases, and reviews from current or former employees.
This investment is crucial; it’s the difference between a generic answer and one that shows genuine, informed interest in their Kenyan operations.
Is it okay to mention a company’s competitor in my answer?
Yes, but do so strategically. You can briefly acknowledge a competitor to highlight what makes your target company unique. For instance, you could note how one supermarket chain’s supply chain differs from another’s.
Always frame it positively, focusing on why the company you’re interviewing with is your preferred choice, not why the competitor is worse.
What if the interviewer corrects a small detail in my answer?
Stay calm and gracious. Thank them for the clarification—use “pole” and “asante” naturally. This shows you are humble, a good listener, and can handle feedback professionally, which are highly valued traits in Kenyan workplaces.
Use it as a chance to engage further by asking a follow-up question about the correct information they provided.
Can this question come up for interviews with international companies based abroad?
Absolutely. For global companies, research their overall mission but pay special attention to their presence in Africa and Kenya. Understand their local office, key projects, and how they adapt their global strategy to fit the Kenyan context.
This demonstrates you think strategically about their growth in your region, making you a more valuable candidate.
