Kenya is an East African country. Kenya is well-known for its beautiful topography, national parks, and athletes. It is one of the coldest African countries due to the high elevation of most of the regions in the country. The country is also a diverse one with many tribes and races living in the country.
Kenya is one of the most stable and violence-free countries in Africa. The democracy of the country is stable, way more stable than the democracy in some other African countries. There is a good level of unity in the country, and this is made possible by the high level of understanding among the diverse ethnic groups in the country.
In this article, we’ll be introducing the most populous tribes in Kenya. These tribes are listed here because they have a good population and are well-represented in Kenya. Some of these tribes are also well-known outside their country. Before we go on, you are to note that the population of Kenya is 47,558,229 according to Statista.com. It is a moderately populated country.
The 10 most populous tribes in Kenya;
Kikuyu
Kikuyu is the most populous tribe in Kenya. It’s the most populous and the most popular. They occupy a larger chunk of the country’s landmass and population than other tribes. Kikuyu make up about 17% of Kenya’s population, and that’s about 8 million people. The tribe has a unique culture and ways of life. They are strongly rooted in traditions, and they have produced people who have influenced the country a lot.
Luhya
Luhya is the second most populous tribe in Kenya. They are traditional or rooted in their traditions as the Kikuyu. According to anthropologists, Kikuyu have a long history in Kenya–it means that they have been in Kenya for a long time. Luhya makes up about 14.3% of the population of Kenya; this means that there are about 6.8 million people who identify as members of the Luhya tribe.
Kalenjin
Kalenjin is the third most populous tribe in Kenya. They occupy a good amount of land and space in Kenya. They make up 13.4% of the Kenyan population. There are about 6.3 million people. Kalenjin is one of the major tribes in Kenya, according to their population.
Luo
Luo also has a long history in Kenya. It means that they have been in Kenya long before the advent of colonialism and modern Kenya. The Luo people aren’t populous like the first three tribes mentioned earlier, but they are also populous to an extent. Luo make up 10.7% of the population of Kenya. Approximately 5 million Luo people live in Kenya. They are also rooted in their traditional and cultural villages.
Kamba
Kamba is the 5th most populous tribe in Kenya. They are closer in population to the Luo tribe; the difference between the two tribes is not that much. Kamba people, according to Statista.com, make up 9.8% of the population of Kenya. There are approximately 4.6 million Kamba people in Kenya. They are also strongly rooted in their traditional and cultural villages.
Somali
The Somali tribe is predominantly found in Somalia. However, a large number of them are from Kenya. Due to the artificial boundaries created in Africa by Europeans, the Somalis find themselves divided between two countries. In Kenya, the Somali are the 6th most populous tribe. The Somali tribe makes up 5.8% of the population of Kenya, and that’s about 2.7 million people. Sometimes, the interest of the tribe comes in conflict with the interest of Kenya as a nation resulting in heavy conflict.
Kisii
Kisii are closer in number and population to the Somali tribe. The difference in their population is just 0.1%. Notwithstanding their relatedness when it comes to population, these tribes aren’t similar in terms of culture and belief systems. The Kisii people make up about 5.7% of Kenya’s population, and that’s about 2.73 million people.
Mijikenda
Mijikenda are the 8th most populous tribe in Kenya. They are dominant in their region regardless of their population. They make up about 5.2% of the Kenyan population. Their population is about 2.48 million people.
Meru
Meru is another populous tribe in Kenya. Just like Mijinkende, they are populous and dominant in their region. There are about 1.97 million people who identify as members of the Meru tribe in Kenya.
Maasai
The Maasai are the 10th most populous tribe in Kenya. They might not be the majority in the country, but they are very popular in and outside Kenya. They have dominant and loud traditions and customs. There are about 1.1 million Maasai people.
These are the most populous tribes in Kenya. Kenya is a diverse country that is blessed with good topography, fauna, and flora. The country is a pearl of tourism in Africa, attracting millions of tourists annually.
