We help you Speak to East African Audiences with Clarity, Respect, and Cultural Precision

Hi there! I’m Dr. Karen Wanjiru Stringer
I founded KWS Language Services to help organizations and individuals connect meaningfully with East African audiences through clear, culturally precise translation.

With over 20 years of experience in academia, translation, and cross-cultural communication and now joined by my sister Winnie Wairimu, a seasoned language professional in Kenya we bring both heart and expertise to every word we translate.

Whether you’re expanding into new markets, engaging local communities, or delivering critical information across languages, we’re here to help your message land with clarity, respect, and cultural accuracy.

Want to see how we do it?
Download our free guide on [“3 Costly Translation Mistakes to Avoid When Entering East African Markets”] and start communicating with confidence.

ABOUT US

KWS Language Services

At KWS Language Services, we believe language isn’t just about translation it’s about building trust, respect, and resonance across cultures.

Founded by Dr. Karen Wanjiru, a U.S.-based scholar with over 20 years of experience in African history, translation, and cross-cultural communication, KWS was born from a deep passion for helping people communicate with clarity and cultural sensitivity. What started as a solo mission has now grown into a women-led, family-run agency, with Karen’s sister, Winnie, joining the team from Kenya, bringing over a decade of hands-on experience in translation, editing, and proofreading.

Together, we blend academic expertise with practical, lived insight, offering clients a rare balance of global perspective and local grounding.

What We Do:

We specialize in professional translation and localization services between:

English ⇄ Swahili
English ⇄ Kinyarwanda
English ⇄ Kirundi

Our work spans sectors including:

Legal
Healthcare
Financial services
Tourism
Education
Nonprofit & development work

Whether you're a global brand expanding into East Africa or a mission-driven organization seeking meaningful engagement with local communities — we make sure your message doesn’t just get translated, it gets understood.

Our Approach

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all language services. Every project we take on is guided by three principles:

✅ Cultural Sensitivity — We honor the nuance and depth of East African languages and communities.
✅ Professional Excellence — From legal terminology to community storytelling, our standards are high.
✅ Human Connection — We care deeply about the people behind the words. That’s why we listen first — and translate second.

At KWS, we help your words land — clearly, respectfully, and powerfully.

KWS Language Services

🌍 Nonprofit Client in the Health Sector

“Working with KWS was a game-changer for our health outreach materials in East Africa. Their team didn’t just translate the content — they helped us localize it with cultural sensitivity we didn’t even know we were missing. The response from the community has been incredible.”

🌐 Brand Entering East Africa

“We’ve worked with multiple translation services before, but none matched the precision and heart KWS brought to our project. Karen and Winnie made sure our message resonated exactly as intended — not just linguistically, but culturally.”

💼 Legal & Financial Client

“Accuracy and confidentiality were absolutely essential for our documents, and KWS delivered both flawlessly. Their attention to detail, responsiveness, and professionalism gave us complete confidence throughout the process.”

🎓 Education & Training Organization

“From the very first conversation, it was clear KWS genuinely cared about our mission. Their team helped us adapt educational materials in a way that was both clear and culturally grounded. We’ll definitely be partnering with them again.”

Contact US

Have a question? Send a message. We are happy to hear from you!

Dr. S.