"Sawa sawa” means “alright, fine, ok” – it is the response to anything, good or bad – the idea is that one should always begin by being positive, no matter what life has brought you. My host sister, when telling me about her spoiled cousin that she can’t stand, even realizes she involuntarily begins by saying he’s nice. Everything is nice, no matter what you’re talking about. As someone who is irked by complainers, I’m now evaluating which I prefer more: honesty, or perpetual positivity.
And “labda” means “maybe” or “perhaps”, and is often the response to making plans – he called this a “labda society,” where no one really makes concrete plans, as the focus is on the present moment instead – because who knows what the future brings. I swear, I’ve seen Kenyans visibly cringe when asked to commit to a meeting next week.