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Originally published by Citizen DigitalSeptember 9, 2025
5h ago
Kenyanese: How Kenyans universally use words like 'Thermos' and 'Pampers' to refer to products not even associated with the brand name

Kenyanese: How Kenyans universally use words like 'Thermos' and 'Pampers' to refer to products not even associated with the brand name..
✨ Key Highlights
Kenyans often use brand names generically to refer to various products, a peculiarity highlighted by commentators and musicians. This linguistic habit, alongside other unique actions and tendencies, defines a significant aspect of Kenyan identity and communication.
- A common practice among Kenyans is using a specific brand name, such as 'Omo' for all detergents, 'Kiwi' for all shoe polishes, and 'Pampers' for all diapers, regardless of the actual brand.
- This phenomenon extends to products like Cutex (nail polish), Thermos (vacuum flasks), and Kasuku (plastic containers), where the brand name has become the generic term.
- Renowned author Sunny Bindra and former Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph have commented on these distinctive Kenyan traits, with rapper Mejja even releasing a song, "Tabia za Wakenya," detailing several such peculiarities.
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