Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Tribes of Kenya Facts

Tribes of Kenya Facts

Facts About Kenya

Kenya has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Africa. Kenyan tribes include, the Kikuyus, also known as Gikuyu, Luhya, Luo tribe, Kalenjin, the Kamba tribe, also called the Akamba, Kisii, Maasai, and the Meru.


School girls collecting water
Kenyan Culture

Tribes of Kenya Eight Interesting Facts


Kenyan Tribes Facts Capital: Nairobi Area: 580,367 sq. km (slightly more than twice the size of Nevada) Population: 45 million.

There are over 40 Kenya tribes; indigenous tribes of Kenya fall into three ethnic groups, namely: the Bantus, the Cushites and the Nilotes.
The Maasai people of East Africa live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania along the Great Rift Valley on semi-arid and arid lands.

Largest tribes in Kenya

Kikuyu

The Kikuyus, also known as Gikuyu or Agikuyu, make up Kenya’s largest ethnic group around 22%.The Kikuyu tribe is a Bantu tribe that neighbors the Embu, Mbeere and Meru tribes around Mount Kenya. Kikuyus speak the Kikuyu language, and most of them live around the fertile central highlands and Mount Kenya where they mainly grow tea and coffee. The Kikuyu tribe dominates leadership and politics in Kenya.

 

Luhya

Luhyas are Kenya's second largest ethnic tribe making up around 14% of the population. The Luhya tribe, also known as the Abaluhya, Baluhya, or Abaluyia, are neighbors to the Luo, Kalenjin, Maasai and Teso tribes. Although considered one tribe, the Luhya consist of over 18 small tribes, each speaking a different dialect of the Luhya language. The Bukusu and Maragoli are the two largest tribes within the Luhya tribe. Traditional bullfighting is a popular sport with some of the Luhya tribe. Luhyas are mainly agriculturists, growing sugarcane and other crops; most of the sugar eaten in Kenya is produced in Mumias, a Luhya land.

 

Luo

Luo tribe is a subgroup of the larger Luo society that is spread across Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Congo and Ethiopia. The Luo tribe is the third largest community in Kenya and makes up around 13% of the population. Luo people as an initiation to manhood remove six teeth from the lower-jaw.

The Luo community is a significant player in the Kenyan political scene. The late father of Barack Obama was from the Luo tribe. Fish and ugali are the staple foods of the Luo tribe.

 

Kalenjin

Kalenjin is the fourth largest community in Kenya making up around 12% of the population. The Kipsigi’s are the largest of the Kalenjin group. Kalenjin’s are famously known as Kenyan running tribe. Many legendary Kenyan long distance runners are Kalenjin’s, they continue to dominate the marathon scene to this day.

 

Kamba

The Kamba tribe, also called the Akamba are the fifth largest tribe in Kenya making up about 11% of Kenya's total population. Kamba people are gifted dancers, singers, woodcarvers and basket weavers. The Kamba men and women hold high seats in politics and leadership Kenyan political landscape.

 

Kisii

The Kisii tribe are also known as the Gusii tribe. The Kisii live in the highlands in Nyanza, Western Kenya between the Luo and Luhya tribes. The Kisii are the sixth largest ethnic group, comprising about 6% of Kenya’s population. They are farmers and raises livestock on their densely populated farmlands. Classic Kisii foods are ugali, cassava, and matoke.

 

Meru

The Meru lives on the northeastern slopes of Mount Kenya and make up about 6% of Kenya’s total population. The name Meru refers to both the people and the location. The Meru are agriculturalists and coffee, tea and cotton are the most commonly grown cash crop. The Meru tribe is divided into subtribes, Igemebe, Igoji, Imenti, Miutuni, Muthambi, Mwimbi, and Tigania. The Chuka and Tharaka are considered part of the Meru tribe but they have different oral histories and traditions.

 

Other Groups of Kenya

African 15% and non-African 1% including the Maasai. The Maasai people of East Africa live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania along the Great Rift Valley on semi-arid and arid lands. A majority of the Maasai population live in Kenya and small portions of Tanzania. The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people who adhere to traditional communal land; the concept of private ownership was a foreign concept to the Maasai people. Traditionally, the Maasai diet consisted of mainly meat, milk and blood from cattle. Maasai people drink blood only on special occasions.



Kenya is five times the size of Ohio slightly more than twice the size of Nevada.
The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa.
Glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak.
More than 40% of Kenyans are under the age of 15. Kenya in 1967 was the first sub-Saharan country to launch a nationwide family planning program.

More Articles to Read from Chic African Culture

Show more

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Food, Drink Offerings at Rock-Cut Tombs

Image
Loaves of bread, cakes, wine, water beer,  oils, and perfumes were offerings Ancient Egyptians offered to the deceased at Beni Hasan Rock-Cut Tombs. A rock-cut tomb is a type of burial structure that is created by carving or excavating directly into natural rock formations. Rock-cut tombs are literally carved or excavated out of solid rock. This means that the tomb chambers, corridors, and other features are created by removing the rock material from the surrounding natural formation. Many of these rock-cut tombs feature decorative elements, such as wall paintings, inscriptions, and carvings.  In the Beni Hasan Rock-Cut Tombs, the ancient Egyptians paid homage to their departed by presenting a variety of offerings. These included loaves of bread, cakes, wine, water, beer, oils, and perfumes. These offerings were a heartfelt gesture to honor and ensure the well-being of the deceased in the afterlife, reflecting the profound significance of their beliefs and funerary customs in ancient E
Read the Article

Architectural Glory: The Nouakchott Mosque of Mauritania

Image
Exploring the Nouakchott Mosque's Design   At first glance, the Nouakchott Mosque's most prominent feature is its soaring minaret, one of Africa's tallest. This towering structure serves as a call to prayer and a beacon that guides the faithful toward their place of worship. The minaret's height allows the call to prayer, or Adhan, to resonate far and wide, calling the community to come together for their daily prayers and congregational gatherings. It's common for mosques to be named based on their location, as in the Nouakchott Mosque in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The mosque's design pays homage to the classic elements of Islamic architecture. Like in many Islamic architectural designs, the dominant colors at the Nouakchott Mosque tend to be earthy and neutral tones, with white being a particularly prevalent color. These color choices have cultural and practical significance in Islamic architecture. Its grand entrance is adorned with intricate geometric patterns
Read the Article

Sand Traveling from the Shores of Ghana to New England

Image
The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, is an important reminder of the interconnectedness of all existence.  It serves as a reminder that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant elements of our world are subject to the grand tapestry of natural processes and the relentless passage of time.  It also invites us to reflect on the intricate web of relationships that underlie our existence and the profound implications of our actions on the global scale. The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, shows how interconnected our world is despite vast distances. Sand grains on the shores of Ghana, like those on coastlines worldwide, are constantly subject to natural processes such as erosion. Waves, tides, and weathering gradually break down rocks and minerals, producing sand. The Atlantic Ocean separates Ghana from the eastern United States. Ocean currents, including the North Atlantic Drift and the Gulf Stream, are c
Read the Article

Ancient Energy Source of Sarkin Ruwa

Image
The Ancient Energy of Sarkin Ruwa, the King of the Water Sarkin Ruwa is the West African Hausa culture revered spiritual energy, the guardian of all things water, making sure it flows and nourishes the Earth in the most extraordinary ways. In the grand tapestry of the natural world, few forces possess the mystique, the sheer might, and the profound influence that water holds. An embodiment of life and power, water transcends mere chemical composition, captivating our senses and imagination.  At the heart of this aquatic dominion stands a figure deserving of the loftiest accolades: Sarkin Ruwa, the King of the Water. To those who understand the true potential of this elemental ruler, it becomes evident that water's sovereignty reigns supreme. Imagine a realm that can both nurture and destroy, bestow life and take it away—a realm that can carve canyons out of rock and cradle civilizations with gentle tides. This is the kingdom of Sarkin Ruwa, where the ebb and flow of its currents po
Read the Article