Every year, the Lamu Cultural Festival brings Kenyans together to celebrate the history, future, beliefs, and traditions that are at the heart and soul of this community on the beautiful and picturesque island of Lamu. Lamu is a World Heritage site and an ancient Swahili village, and the cultural festival provides a glimpse into how life was in the past in terms of architecture and lifestyle. The event is normally held in November each year. The goal of this festival is to promote Swahili history and maintain the islands' unique culture. It was founded in 2001 and is funded by a number of international embassies and private donors. The festival is well-attended, and the schedule represents Swahili culture's diversity. Storytellers' readings and performances showcase Swahili poetry's traditional skills. There are numerous musical acts on the main square. In the streets of Lamu Town, all the archipelago's traditional dances (ngoma) are gathered in one location.

During the celebrations, the past's enchantment comes to life. Dhow building, henna painting, fish trap manufacturing, palm weaving, and bao games are among the traditional exhibitions. The donkey races and dhow races along the Lamu seashore are exhilarating and a feast for all. The several varieties of dhows are intriguing to watch: the larger Jahazi, the smaller Mashua, or the quick and graceful Mozambique dhow. The dhow regattas are a significant draw and unquestionably the festival's highlight.

When: November

The Safaricom Jazz Festival is one of Kenya’s biggest Jazz events, and a must attend for anyone who loves good music. This festival has grown into an outstanding festival of live music since its beginning in February 2014. The Festival takes pride in bringing together brilliant performers from around the world, and it has played an important part in growing Kenya's jazz scene, making the genre more accessible to fans, and bringing music enthusiasts together for a good cause. Safaricom sponsors the Safaricom Jazz Lounge twice a year, in addition to the main Festival in February, presenting a heady mix of live music performances in an intimate setting aimed to provide a memorable fan experience.

But these events are about more than the music, dancing, and laughter that have become synonymous with Safaricom Jazz; all proceeds benefit Ghetto Classics, a non-profit community-based program that aims to transform the lives of youth from underprivileged backgrounds by exposing them to live jazz and classical music. That is what distinguishes Safaricom Jazz: it is music that moves.

Jonathan Butler, Jimmy Dludlu, Kunle Ayo, Salif Keita, and Chris Bitok are among the world's most recognized jazz artists who have performed at various events. Kavutha, Aaron Rimbui, and Eddie Grey are some of Kenya's most well-known athletes. Tickets for the previous event sold out days before the Festival, demonstrating how popular it is.

When: February

Every year Eatout Kenya organises Nairobi Restaurant Week (NRW) to celebrate Nairobi’s growing gastronomic culture. Nairobi Restaurant Week focuses on dining at some of Nairobi's greatest restaurants at steep discounts. Restaurant Week is a popular event in many cities across the world, and it takes place in Nairobi for roughly ten days in January/February. Restaurants create a special menu with many dishes, and several businesses collaborate to provide complimentary drinks and cocktails. Nairobi Restaurant Week is a must-attend event for any foodie who wants to experience local and foreign foods in renowned restaurants.

When: March

This is a festival for art and music lovers. It takes place in September and features famous musicians and writers from around the world. Through books, live conversations, storytelling, skits, poetry, music, demonstrations, seminars, open mics, debates, exhibitions, live performances, art, and contests, the Storymoja Festival is a five-day international celebration of ideas, tales, writing, and culture.

Throughout the days, masterclasses, book readings, and showcases take place, with various musical acts capping out the day with incredible performances. The Festival is also an opportunity to see and buy books and artwork, as well as meet and greet your favorite writers.

The Storymoja Festival has previously been referred to as "East Africa's biggest book party" and a "festival of books, tales, and culture." The Storymoja Festival has quickly established itself as a vibrant gathering of Kenya's and beyond's brightest minds.

When: September

The Cake Festival is usually held at Nairobi's Uhuru Gardens. Attendees can choose from a selection of cakes prepared by professional and home bakers, and they can eat as much as they like. For everyone who like cake, this is a must-attend event, and you'll have access to some of the top bakers for your events. The proceeds from ticket sales go to various charity, so you get to eat great cakes while also helping others. This is one of the most famous festivals in Kenya.

The Cake Festival is a great way to spend the day with your family, with a wide variety of activities. Sample cakes, sweets, and a variety of pastries from your favorite bakers, as well as some you never knew existed. Get expert advice on the baking process from the industry's top bakers. Obtain information and skills from the exhibitors while being exposed to a variety of products and services. While the kids have a great time in the kiddie zone, you can listen to the latest music from our DJs and live bands. The food court satisfies everyone's hunger. There is something for everyone at the festival, including enjoyable family bonding competitions.

When: throughout the year

The Camel Derby, held every year in Samburu, Kenya's northern district, is progressively evolving into a stunning festival with a range of events that attract tourists from all over the world. Since it began in the early 1990s with camel races and cycling races for both amateurs and professionals, the Derby has drawn competitors from all over the world. The Carmel Derby, which takes place every year in Maralal, brings color and bustle to the streets as the best camels congregate for the main race. Certainly, it is one of the most famous festivals in Kenya.

Maralal is a sanctuary for nomadic cultures and a popular stopover for travelers seeking adventure in the huge unspoilt wilderness areas. The Camel Derby is an amazing event for everyone who wants to compete and experience culture, color, action, and adventure firsthand, with difficult routes passing through semi-desert locations.

When: around midyear

The Rhino Charge is a Kenyan off-road competition in which competitors must visit a number of points (Guard Posts) while traveling the shortest distance feasible across challenging, trackless terrain, with speed being punished. The event is being held in order to collect funds for the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust's initiatives. The Charge is a one-of-a-kind and thrilling sport that needs bravery as well as advanced off-road driving and navigation skills. Entries to the event are limited to 65 automobiles in order to avoid negative environmental consequences.

The Aberdare Electric Fence was built in 1989, and the event was created to raise cash for its development. Rhino Ark founder Ken Kuhle, rally enthusiasts Rob Combes and Brian Haworth proposed an off-road event to assist the freshly created Rhino Ark Charitable Trust's fencing project. The Trust was dedicated to preserving the Aberdare National Park's diminishing Rhino population, as well as reducing human-wildlife conflicts in the area. The first event, held on February 4, 1989, had 31 competitors and was won by Travers Allison in a Suzuki jeep. While the initial Rhino Charge only raised KES 250,000, the amount raised has steadily climbed over the years, reaching over KES 90 million in 2013.

When: June

The Africa Nouveau Festival arose from the successful Blankets and Wine Festival, which hosted over 50 events over the course of six years. With this new festival, the emphasis switches from solely on music to include other types of art as well as exquisite culinary pleasures. It's a two-day celebration of African music, art, fashion, and food, and it's as much fun as they come.

The event also functioned as a hub for various fashion installations and pop-up shops, as well as a live look book that acted as a precursor to a digitally distributed fashion magazine featuring both creatives and attendees. Film screenings of notable films and artistic works by African filmmakers and digital artists were also included.

With all of the sights, sounds, and sensations on offer, you could say that a dynamic community of producers, curators, and fans was built over the course of two days as everyone gathered to celebrate and enjoy progressive forms of music and art emerging from Africa.

When: March

The Lake Turkana Festival is held every year at Loiyangalani, a tiny town on Lake Turkana's south-eastern shore. In the original Samburu speech, the name means "a site of many trees," and it is home to the El Molo, a virtually extinct community, among other populations. Fishing, tourism, and gold panning are the main industries. The adjacent El Molo and Turkana communities, among others, offer distinct cultural experiences, and it is quickly becoming a popular tourist destination in Northern Kenya. With the large participation of the people, this is definitely one of the most famous festivals in Kenya.

The National Museums of Kenya built the first and only Desert Museum in Loiyangalani in June 2008, which reflects the cultures and lives of the eight people who live in the area. The first Lake Turkana Cultural Festival was held this year, celebrating and unifying all tribes linked with Loiyangalani that dwell surrounding Lake Turkana. The three-day carnival honors the diverse cultures of the El Molo, Samburu, Gabbra, Rendile, Watta, Dasannach, and Turkana peoples who live in the Jade Sea region. The Lake Turkana Festival is worth going to if you want to visit this northern frontier and see a variety of colorful cultures while learning about Lake Turkana's hidden treasures.

When: June

The Safaricom 7s is a rugby sevens competition that takes place every year in Nairobi, Kenya. International representative teams, professional and amateur clubs, invitational teams, university and school teams are all welcome to compete in the Safaricom 7s.

The event was first hosted at the RFUEA Ground, home of the Kenya Rugby Union, before moving to the Nyayo National Stadium in 2010 and 2011, and then to the Moi International Sports Centre in 2012 and 2017. The event was moved back to the RFUEA in 2018 due to dwindling spectator and sponsor interest.

The Safaricom 7s isn't actually a festival, but it's on the list because of its well-deserved buzz. Rugby teams from across the world compete in games that take place over the course of the weekend until a winner is determined. Between games, there are musical events, and there is plenty of food outside the stadium.

When: August