Discussions about Kenyan tribes is a complex issue; other than 42 well-known tribes, there are other communities which are still struggling and maybe yet to be put on Kenyan map and be recognized as some of the tribes in Kenya.
The Makonde community for instance, raised an alarm media a few years ago and are officially among the Kenyan tribes. This therefore makes the total number of Kenyan tribes to be 43. More communities such as Nubians, Yatta, Ogiek and Endorois. READ FULL STORY
The thing about Kenyan tribes is therefore dynamic; there is no specific number of tribes especially with increased migrations from place to place within the borders and also immigrations from other countries. Immigrations from other countries have also formed categories in Kenya depending on where immigrants are coming from.
Most immigrants in Kenya have registered for citizenship thus being considered as Kenyans. Examples of such immigrants include Kenyan Asians, Kenyan Europeans and Kenyan Americans
Kenyan Asians are people from countries within the Asian continent such as India, China, Japan etc. Kenyan Europeans are immigrants from countries within Europe such as Spain, United Kingdom, Russia etc. Consequently, Kenyan Americans are immigrants from the United States.
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Among major tribes in Kenya are also sub-tribes. The major tribes having sub-tribes in Kenya include: Ameru, Kalenjin, Luhya and Mijikenda.
The following is a list of all Kenyan Tribes and their sub-tribes as of the year 2020/2021 and their total population as of 2019:
| Tribe |
Sub-tribe |
Population 2019 |
| Ameru |
Igembe |
– |
| Tigania |
– |
| Imenti |
– |
| Igoji |
– |
| Muthambi |
– |
| Chuka |
– |
| Mwimbi |
– |
| Tharaka |
|
| Miutuni |
– |
| Embu |
– |
– |
| Kalenjin |
Kipsigis |
– |
| Nandi |
– |
| Keiyo |
– |
| Marakwet |
– |
| Tugen |
– |
| Terik |
– |
| Pokot |
– |
| Sabaot |
– |
| Kamba |
– |
4,663,910 |
| Kikuyu |
– |
8,148,668 |
| Kisii |
– |
2,703,235 |
| Kuria |
– |
– |
| Luhya |
Khayo |
– |
| Marachi |
– |
| Kisa |
– |
| Isukha |
– |
| Idakho |
– |
| Batsotso |
– |
| Banyore |
– |
| Gisu |
– |
| Banyala |
– |
| Marama |
– |
| Tachoni |
– |
| Wanga |
– |
| Tiriki |
– |
| Samia |
– |
| Bukusu |
– |
| Luo |
– |
5,066,966 |
| Maasai |
– |
– |
| Mijikenda |
Jibana |
– |
| Rabai |
– |
| Ribe |
– |
| Kauma |
– |
| Duruma |
– |
| Kambe |
– |
| Chonyi |
– |
| Orma |
– |
– |
| Rendile |
– |
– |
| Samburu |
– |
– |
| Somali |
– |
2,780,502 |
| Suba |
– |
– |
| Swahili |
– |
– |
| Taita |
– |
– |
| Taveta |
– |
– |
| Turkana |
– |
– |
| Gabra |
– |
– |
| Mbeere |
– |
– |
| Nubi |
– |
– |
| Tharaka |
– |
– |
| Ilchamus |
– |
– |
| Njemps |
– |
– |
| Borana |
– |
– |
| Galla |
– |
– |
| Gosha |
– |
685 |
| Konso |
– |
1,299 |
| Waat |
– |
– |
| Isaak |
– |
– |
| Walwana |
– |
– |
| Dasenach |
– |
– |
| Sakuye |
– |
– |
| Galjeel |
– |
– |
| Leysan |
– |
|
| Bulji |
– |
– |
| Teso |
– |
– |
| Kenyan Asian |
– |
– |
| Kenyan European |
– |
– |
| Kenyan American |
– |
596 |
| The Makonde |
|
3764 |
