A constant theme in theories of language contact is the question of borrowability, that is, “the readiness with which a linguistic feature can undergo borrowing from one language into another” R. L. Trask (2000:44), particularly, if there are a great number of limitations that control the kinds of lexicon and structure that can be borrowed. Currently historical linguists are not likely to restrict the art of borrowing as they used to be, since everyone is familiar with at least a few examples of ‘odd’ borrowings. In our daily communication, there are various instances when one encounters a situation demanding adoption of certain strategies to communicate effectively. In relation to this, it is obvious that in a multicultural country, with reference to Kenya specifically, the issue of words getting from one language into another is unavoidable. There will always be instances of borrowing: adopting words from a source language into one’s native language. Thus, when two languages are in contact, features from one language, such as nouns and verbs, are often borrowed into the other language. This paper presents a case study of language contact in Kenya between English and Swahili as well as the indigenous languages spoken there. The focus will be on words that have been borrowed into Kenyan English from Swahili and other indigenous languages. Nyckelord: Borrowing, Language contact, adoption of words, language.