Socio-Economic Atlas of Kenya Population Distribution & Dynamics
2.13 Main Communities
Kenya’s communities may be broadly ethno-linguistically grouped into Bantu, Nilotic, and Cushitic populations. Such ethno-linguistic grouping should occur on the basis of self-identification, with language as the main identifier. However, it should be noted that for the purpose of the present map, some communities were grouped together not based on ethno-linguistic characteristics, but rather according to shared socio-economic and cultural practices. In the 2009 census, household members were asked to indicate their “tribe” or nationality. Their responses were grouped according to the broad categories described above, and each sub-location was then assessed to determine whether a given community comprised 50% or more of its total population. If more than three of Kenya’s 7,149 sub-locations displayed a majority population of a given community, then that community was adopted for further analyses. The analyses eventually resulted in the 29 communities displayed on this map: 16 Bantus, six Nilotes, six Cushites, and a summary category of “others of African origin”. The last category seldom occurs, mainly in refugee camps. Using different colours, the main map displays each of the sub- locations in which one of these 29 communities constitutes at least 50% of the population. Sub-locations without a majority community are filled in white, indicating a mix. The same colour system is used in the county map, i.e. only counties in which one community comprises 50% or more of the population are shaded one colour or another. Finally, the county table shows the largest community in each county, even if it does
not reach 50%. It also indicates the second- and third-largest communities in each county. The county map shows that Bantu and Nilotic communities inhabit Kenya’s western region; Cushitic communities inhabit the entire north-eastern region and parts of Kenya’s eastern region; Bantu communities dominate its entire central and lower eastern regions including the coast; and most of the Rift Valley is dominated by Nilotic communities (see main map for details). The county table also shows that there are 30 counties in which the largest community has a clear majority, constituting upwards of 75% of the population; there are also ten counties in which a given community constitutes 50 to 66% of the population. Finally, the county map displays seven counties without a majority community of 50% or more: Marsabit (largest community: 28%), Tana River (28%), Nairobi (29%), Lamu and Mombasa (both 30%), Isiolo (37%), and Kajiado (44%). Closer examination of the main map reveals that this is the result, on the one hand, of communities sharing a broad area in which they alternatingly dominate different neighbouring sub-locations (e.g. in Marsabit or Tana River). On the other, it is the result of counties containing many sub-locations in which no one community is dominant. This is clearly the case in Nairobi and Mombasa counties, but also in Kajiado, near Nairobi. This indicates that Kenya’s economic centres and hubs are very ethno-linguistically diverse. The two map insets of Mombasa and Nairobi further show that this high degree of diversity extends all the way down to the sub-location level. Nairobi is an interesting case: some of its sub-locations seem to function as entry points for migrants from specific communities, who eventually assimilate into the broader mix. In addition, the main map shows that all of Kenya’s major towns are ethno-linguistically diverse (visible in white). Finally, the rural–urban graph further confirms that urban contexts are more ethno-linguistically mixed than rural contexts: sub-locations whose largest community does not exceed 50%, or even 30%, are overwhelmingly urban, while sub-locations whose largest community exceeds 90% are found almost exclusively in rural settings. Thus, the mix of communities appears to be a key issue worthy of additional analysis. This is done in the following section (2.14).
Largest community
Nairobi
Kikuyu
Mombasa Kwale
Second-largest community
Third-largest community
29.4%
Kamba
Luo
Miji Kenda
30.1%
Kamba
Luo
Miji Kenda
82.7%
Kamba
Luhya
Kilifi
Miji Kenda
86.5%
Kamba
Swahili
Tana River
Pokomo
27.5%
Orma
Wardei
Lamu
Swahili
30.2%
Kikuyu
Miji Kenda
Taita Taveta
Taita
63.3%
Kamba
Taveta
Garissa
Somali
79.6%
Other Afr. Origin
Kamba
Wajir
Somali
98.7%
Gabra
Other Afr. Origin
Mandera
Somali
97.6%
Gabra
Other Afr. Origin
Marsabit
Gabra
28.7%
Borana
Rendille
Isiolo
Borana
37.0%
Somali
Samburu
Meru
Meru
93.7%
Kikuyu
Kamba
Tharaka Nithi
Meru
54.8%
Tharaka
Mbeere
Embu
Embu
50.4%
Mbeere
Kamba
Kitui
Kamba
96.6%
Tharaka
Other Afr. Origin
Machakos
Kamba
91.0%
Kikuyu
Luhya
Makueni
Kamba
98.1%
Kikuyu
Other Afr. Origin
Nyandarua
Kikuyu
96.3%
Luhya
Kisii
Nyeri
Kikuyu
94.0%
Meru
Kenyan Kenyan
Kirinyaga
Kikuyu
95.2%
Kamba
Embu
Murang’a
Kikuyu
94.0%
Kamba
Luhya
Kiambu
Kikuyu
80.9%
Kamba
Luhya
Turkana
Turkana
94.3%
Other Afr. Origin
Luhya
West Pokot
Kalenjin
95.1%
Luhya
Turkana
Samburu
Samburu
78.8%
Turkana
Kikuyu
Trans Nzoia
Luhya
52.0%
Kalenjin
Kikuyu
Uasin Gishu
Kalenjin
58.1%
Luhya
Kikuyu
Elgeyo Marakwet Kalenjin
92.5%
Luhya
Other Afr. Origin
Nandi
Kalenjin
77.4%
Luhya
Luo
Baringo
Kalenjin
88.0%
Maasai
Kikuyu
Laikipia
Kikuyu
63.0%
Maasai
Kalenjin
Nakuru
Kikuyu
52.4%
Kalenjin
Luhya
Narok
Maasai
51.4%
Kalenjin
Kikuyu
Kajiado
Maasai
44.5%
Kikuyu
Kamba
Kericho
Kalenjin
87.5%
Luo
Kikuyu
Bomet
Kalenjin
95.7%
Kisii
Luo
Kakamega
Luhya
92.4%
Luo
Kikuyu
Vihiga
Luhya
95.5%
Luo
Kalenjin
Bungoma
Luhya
82.9%
Kalenjin
Teso
Busia
Luhya
57.2%
Teso
Luo
Siaya
Luo
94.8%
Luhya
Other Afr. Origin
Kisumu
Luo
88.9%
Luhya
Kalenjin
Homa Bay
Luo
87.5%
Basuba
Kisii
Migori
Luo
60.2%
Kuria
Luhya
Kisii
Kisii
96.5%
Luo
Kenyan Kenyan
Nyamira
Kisii
97.2%
Luo
Kenyan Kenyan
KENYA
–
–
–
Abbreviation: Afr. = African
56
Share of largest community in total population
–
Data Source 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census (Variable P15: Tribe/ Nationality), Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
2.13 Rural–Urban Distribution of Community Reach Classes Total population (in thousands) in all sub-locations falling in a given community reach class 100%
1,630
3,922
3,781
5,741
23,040 %Rural
Rural and urban shares of each community reach class
The previous map illustrated Kenya’s religious diversity, confirming that it is a country of multiple cultures forming one nation. This is even more evident when looking at Kenya’s ethno-linguistic composition. The common view holds that Kenya is home to 42 communities, popularly but debatably referred to as “tribes”. However, if one takes an even more differentiated view, as was done in the 2009 census, it is possible to distinguish at least 108 communities or sub-communities – a figure that does not include the diverse groups of non-nationals residing in Kenya. As stated earlier, Kenya’s incredible diversity may pose certain challenges, but, more importantly, it represents a wellspring of human resources on behalf of economic development and innovation. Properly channelled, Kenya’s diversity will enable the country to define its own vision and path forward in a globalizing world, combining the experiences and strengths of its many local cultures.
County
80%
%Urban
60%
40%
20%
0% <30%
30–50%
50–70%
70–90%
>90%
Community reach: percentage of population belonging to main community Urban
Rural
2.13 Main Communities at County Level
Refer to main map for definition of classes