The ‘Kienyeji’ Fiasco in KFC — Kakamega Branch
If I were the Operations Manager at KFC's Kakamega Branch, here’s how I’d respond to the Kienyeji situation:
Recently, I saw a post on Facebook from KFC welcoming customers to the newly launched establishment in Kakamega. While many were enthusiasts as they shared their compliments for the arrival of the long-awaited international fast food restaurant, some requested that the fast food company consider opening shop in their home town, nonetheless, there were still a few who had concerns to air about how they felt about the newly opened restaurant.
A customer commented that unless they embrace Kuku Kienyeji, it will be hard for them to enjoy the delicacies offered on the restaurant’s menu. As threatening as this sounds, does it really affect the sales of the restaurant? For now, it is hard to say; we shall ask that question six months after they’ve settled in well and probably earned a considerable customer share from local competitors.
How Can I Solve the ‘Kienyeji’ Fiasco, You Ask?
What You Ordered vs What You Get Situation
If I were the Operations Manager at KFC’s Kakamega Branch, here’s how I’d respond to the Kienyeji situation. I would sell the thrill of a ‘true’ kuku kienyeji appetite to customers who demand it. Personally, I am happy with the Luhya touch you gave when marketing KFC in Kakamega. “Dandia Deal ya Ingokho” I bet you guys wanted to use this for the longest across your subsidiaries across Kenya, but it would only be suitable in Kakamega. 😄 As one of the comments referred to the breed you choose for making your delicacies fake, it can only be settled on the battleground.
Luhyas are thrilled by animal fights. It is a culture in itself that, to this era it continues to be carried on through bull fighting. This cultural practice has been embraced economically, to an extend that has encouraged bull farming not for purposes of butchering but fighting among the locals.
Every Saturday morning, a match is organized between bulls to fight it out. A bull is normally cheered by a large crowd of supporters. They sing songs of praise to the fighting bull, utter words of encouragement, and, to some extent, pray for their bull’s fighting day to turn out successful.
Back to chicken: Most locals who have made their demand clear that they may opt not to be customers at the establishment have raised pasturized hens and roosters that are commonly referred to as “Kuku Kienyeji”. I view this consumer preference from both economic and cultural perspectives.
Let’s talk Economies of Scale...
In as much as embracing Kuku Kienyeji will be a hard bargain to increase your cost of operation, considering the buying price is much higher for pasturized hens and roosters than the breed you have on stock. I believe including pasturized roosters in your menu and adding the crunchy toppings still upholds the KFC appeal with local appreciation of the Luhya “Ingokho” delicacy. This opens an opportunity for a premium price that I have confidence a couple of individuals would be happy to pay. I would include myself among the confident souls who would pay for “Kuku Kienyeji Imeomoka” — But Wueh! 👀 Until then, ni kukula tu kwa macho 😂.
… tamaduni Je?
Now what’s the cultural way, or was it just buying pasturized roosters for economic stability in the county or demanding high prices in the name of “Kuku Kienyeji” from the local farmer’s market?
That’s right. Put two roosters to fight, and Luhyas will gather in praise and enjoyment. This is something that bred from childhood. As a matter of fact, on a farmer’s homestead, when two roosters fight, it is believed to mean that visitors will be visiting the home. When they arrive, normally the defeated rooster get’s to be the visitor’s meal. Now that you have finally arrived in Kakamega, it might be the right time for you to embrace Kuku Kienyeji, not just for the locals but for the larger part of Kenya or the globe, wherever Luhya are.
I bet we are scattered across this world for sure 🤣🤣🤣 Play a luhya this Utamaduni-Amapiano Fusion (Sn 1 Ep 6 of the #AmapianoDadExperience — Kakamega Series by Shadewill the Disk Jockey), it will truly bring out the luhya in them. For some, you will witness them dance the infamous “Kamabeka” dance style — a dance style specially done with the rhythmic shaking of one’s shoulders.
Here is why embracing Kuku Kienyeji may culturally make sense from a business perspective…
As the Luhya community believes fighting roosters is a sign of welcoming visitors into a home, this can be part of a business ritual in Kakamega where you encourage rooster farming for both sport and food supply. As the imaginery operations manager at Kakamega KFC, I would organize tournaments among sport rooster farmers and use the event to maximally market KFC to encourage locals to visit the establishment any moment they wanted a kuku kienyeji treat with a KFC touch. Trust me, this would groom a fast-growing customer niche that may attract fans from neighboring counties or countries to enjoy the sport & premium meal.
There’s more thought that needs to be put in place before such a marketing strategy is implemented, which is why I would call for a third or fourth year business/economics student(s) from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) to take it upon him/herself or themselves to assess the economies of scale in this proposed marketing strategy. Hopefully, we will co-author my next article.
Further in the comments, I was enticed by how you responded to a customer who claimed that Luhyas visiting the establishment will not shy away from leaving no waste on whatever is served.
I am sure most of us do not mind judgment, as it is something we may not resist doing ourselves. Did you know that bones are a good source of calcium? With the currently retailed breed of chicken, we consider the tender bones edible and would not shy away from enjoying the calcium content stored in those soft bones, regardless of how harshly your eyes will judge us while sitting next to one of us in the cozy restaurant. This might not be the same narrative if it were bones from a locally raised pasturized rooster.
This article is not a paid promotion by either KFC or MMUST but a personal article.
