Naivas Supermarkets has concluded the first quarter of its 2027 financial year campaign, “Naivas Ni Kwetu” (Naivas is Home), with a Cultural Day celebration in Kisumu showcasing Kenya’s diverse cultural heritage, local enterprise and food traditions.
The event placed Luo heritage at the centre of the celebrations while bringing together representatives of 11 cultural communities, including the Kisii, Suba, Kuria, Luhya, Teso, Samia, Kipsigis, Nandi, Maasai and Asian communities.
The cultural programme was curated by Naivas’ marketing team in collaboration with the Museums of Kenya in Kisumu and cultural advisers from the represented communities.
Celebrating a Diverse Kenya
Naivas Head of Marketing Florence Saronge said the campaign was designed around the belief that home extends beyond individual communities.
“Every community you see represented here was curated in partnership with the Museums of Kenya, Kisumu, together with advisors from those communities,” Saronge said.
She added that Naivas serves customers from different cultural backgrounds across the country, making inclusivity an important part of the retailer’s customer experience.
Local Suppliers Take Centre Stage
The celebration featured the Ni Kwetu Marketplace, where regional and national suppliers showcased and sampled their products to customers.
The marketplace demonstrated how local producers can use Naivas’ national retail network to access consumers at scale.
The company said the initiative also highlights its continued engagement with homegrown suppliers and its role in strengthening local value chains.
Food Brings Communities Together
The Taste of Ni Kwetu experience showcased regional cuisine through Naivas Fresh, allowing guests to sample traditional dishes prepared using products sourced through the retailer’s fresh supply chain.
The food experience formed part of Naivas’ effort to connect its commercial offering with Kenya’s cultural diversity and culinary traditions.
Grand Cultural Finale
The celebrations culminated in performances featuring the participating cultural groups, bringing together different traditions in a colourful finale.
The performances embodied the campaign’s central message of “many cultures, one home, one Naivas,” while providing a platform for communities to showcase their heritage.
Naivas Chief Executive Officer Andreas von Palseke said the campaign represents the retailer’s commitment to ensuring customers feel a sense of belonging when they visit its stores.
“Naivas Ni Kwetu is our promise made visible,” von Palseke said, noting that the Kisumu celebration demonstrated what the campaign means to the company and its customers.
Linking Culture and Commerce
Naivas Chief Commercial Officer Jorsen Patten said culture and commerce can complement each other, pointing to the marketplace as an example of how local sourcing can connect homegrown products to a national market.
The company also highlighted its continued investment in Western Kenya, where its fresh-sourcing networks and supplier partnerships support local livelihoods while strengthening the supply chain serving customers across the country.
Through the Kisumu celebration, Naivas sought to demonstrate how its retail operations can bring together culture, community, food and commerce, while reinforcing its positioning as a retailer serving customers across Kenya’s diverse cultural landscape.