Kenyans have spotted a funny habit with members of the Kalenjin community. Apparently, they have a conspicuous love affair with a certain colour of jackets.
If a Kalenjin is wearing a jacket, chances are it is a brown one.
Here are some of those instances.
Safaricom Shop Eldoret
Wesley Korir at Citizen Studios
A random guy in the street
Another random guy
Yet another random guy
Isaac Ruto in a brown jacket
Joshua Arap Sang is his favourite jacket
- nairobiwire.com
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The Kalenjin community of Kenya—renowned globally for producing world-class athletes—also carries a number of fascinating cultural quirks and identifiers.
Among the most humorous and endearing of these is the community’s well-known “love affair” with brown jackets.
While seemingly mundane, the brown jacket has evolved into a sort of cultural symbol, especially among older Kalenjin men and aspiring leaders.
Here’s a light-hearted but insightful exploration of this interesting phenomenon:
The Kalenjin Brown Jacket: A Cultural Icon
1. Symbol of Leadership and Respectability
Among the Kalenjin, the brown jacket has often been associated with seriousness, leadership, and maturity. Whether it’s a church gathering, chief’s baraza (village meeting), or a burial ceremony, the brown jacket is practically uniform. Many elders consider it the respectable choice for formal occasions, a garment that says: “I’m here to be taken seriously.”
2. Aspirational Dressing
Young men hoping to rise in status or enter politics often don the brown jacket as a way of aligning themselves with elder statesmen and respected figures. It’s not uncommon to see youthful politicians in Elgeyo-Marakwet or Nandi counties adopting this style to signal their readiness for public service. It’s the rural equivalent of the power suit.
3. Practicality and Versatility
Brown jackets are also beloved for their utility. They’re typically made of tough, weather-resistant material—perfect for chilly highland mornings or light rain. They’re neutral, meaning they can be worn with almost anything, and they don’t show dust easily (a major plus on rural roads).
4. Meme Culture and Satire
In Kenyan meme culture, the brown jacket has been gently mocked—especially in online spaces like Twitter and Facebook—as a sort of inside joke among Kalenjins and Kenyans at large. Phrases like “you’re not a real Kalenjin man until you own a brown jacket” pop up regularly. Yet the jest is always affectionate, highlighting a deep cultural bond.
5. Legacy of Simplicity
Much like the community’s celebrated virtues of discipline, humility, and endurance, the brown jacket stands for modesty. It is not flashy, but functional. Not loud, but proud. Just like the long-distance runners who quietly train in the highlands before dominating the world stage.
Fun Anecdotes
- Kalenjin Politician Starter Pack: Often includes a brown jacket, gumboots, a Toyota Prado (or Subaru), and a campaign rally speech starting with “My people…”
- Generational Hand-Me-Downs: Some jackets are rumored to be older than the politicians wearing them, passed down like family heirlooms.
In short, the brown jacket is more than just a piece of clothing for the Kalenjin. It’s a cultural shorthand for dignity, pragmatism, and quiet strength. It might seem like a joke at first, but like many cultural symbols, it carries deep meaning—wrapped in brown fabric and seasoned with time.
hehehe!