From Coffee to Conflict: Kenyan Ambassador Lindsay Kiptiness [S5.E32]

Greg interviews Lindsay Kiptiness, the Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand. Ambassador Kiptiness begins by introducing himself and explains his responsibilities as ambassador to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. He explains his unfortunate arrival during COVID times, and his desire to really explore Thailand when it fully re-opens. The Kenyan healthcare system is behind Thailand’s, but he notes that Nairobi did serve as the center of COVID treatment for UN officials. 

Greg asks the Ambassador about Kenyan products, and the Ambassador regales Greg with pitches for Kenyan coffee and Kenyan purple tea. No, that’s not a typo, and the Ambassador assures us it is the best tea in the world. :) 

The conversation continues on to cover cultural misconceptions, the fickle nature of the global community in times of crisis, and the expatriate Kenyan (and African communities) in Thailand, which is growing, and the Thai community in Kenya, which unfortunately is not. Greg and the Ambassador discuss the reasons for this, and the Ambassador contends there is simply not enough information about Kenya and Africa in Thailand. In fact, the Ambassador makes the point that Greg has made many times on the podcast: all expats are to some extent ambassadors for their home country, and Mr. Kiptiness encourages all Kenyans in Thailand to do their best to promote their home country. 

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