Kenya Tribes are the Custodians of the Country's Rich Cultural Heritage

Each of the Kenya tribes is a repository of a unique facet of Kenya culture. Although it has often been suggested that the term "tribe" is often used disparagingly to suggest backwardness, it is used here advisedly as the various ethnic communities in Kenya self-identify as tribes.

But the issue of the tribes of Kenya is controversial for another reason. It is often contended that existing (albeit dated) official statistics have either failed to recognize small tribes or have subsumed discrete tribes under a single ethnic grouping.

Despite these challenges, it is safe to state that the tribes in the country number at least 40 with the more populous ones being ones being the Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba, Kalenjin and Masai people. Minority tribes which are nevertheless anthropologically interesting include the Ogiek and Samburu people.

Kikuyu

The Kikuyu (also called Gikuyu) occupy the fertile central highlands and parts of the Rift Valley where they grow tea, coffee and several food crops.

Numerically, they are strongest Kenya tribe as they account for upwards of 20 percent of the country's population.

These Kenya people's staple is irio, which comprises a mixture of mashed Irish potatoes, greens and maize. They also eat a lot of arrow roots, yam, cassava and potatoes.

The most prominent Kikuyu in Kenya's contemporary history are Jomo Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki.

Kenyatta is fondly referred to as "the Founding Father of the Nation" as an acknowledgement of his role in helping the country to attain independence.

Mwai Kibaki is the current head of the coalition government that also includes Raila Odinga as Prime Minister.

Luo

The Luo are a Nilotic tribe that occupies the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya and speaks the Dholuo language. Traditionally, the Luo made a living as fishermen and fish (together with ugali maize meal) is their staple food.

Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, his son Raila Odinga (the current Prime Minister) and arguably Barack Obama Senior, the US President's father are the most famous Luo personalities of the modern era.

Luhya

The Luhya are the second largest ethnic grouping although in reality, they are a motley collection of distinct identities such as the Maragoli, Samia, Bukusu and Banyala.

A distinct component of the Luhya culture is bullfighting with the reigning "matador" being Ikolomani legislator Bonnie Khalwale.

These Kenya people are often stereotyped as tea and roadrunner chicken (ingokho) lovers.

Famous Luhya include Masinde Muliro, former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa and Musalia Mudavadi who is the Deputy Prime Minister.

Kalenjin

The Kalenjin, who comprise more than 11 percent of Kenya's population, are a Nilotic people who live in Kenya's Rift Valley Province.

The Kalenjin sub-tribes are the Nandi, Kipsigis, Turgen, Marakwet, Pokot and Terik.

This tribe has produced the overwhelming majority of Kenya's running stars the crème de la crème of which are Kipchoge Keino, Paul Tergat, Janet Chepkosgei and Pamela Jelimo.

The most famous Kalenjin is former president Daniel arap Moi who held the reins of power for 24 years.

Kamba

The Kamba are a Bantu people who occupy a section of the semi-arid Eastern Province called Ukambani. Their local vernacular is called Kikamba and their animated drumming and dancing are so entertaining that they feature prominently at national ceremonies.

The Kamba are also renowned as master wood carvers. Woman-to-woman marriages are common among this Kenya tribe. Famous Kamba include Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Charity Ngilu, the current Water Affairs Minister.

Masai

Although the Masai people only account for 1.4 percent of the country's population, they are the most famous of all the country's tribes.

The Masai culture is very rich. This is is principally because they have retained their traditional lifestyle and remain largely untouched by Western civilization, a fact which intrigues many Western tourists.

The Masai people are nomadic pastoralists who are well dispersed in the Rift Valley province.

They dress predominantly in red checkered sheets called shukas and are easily identifiable from their torn and elongated earlobes and braided headdress.

Their staple food is a mixture of blood and milk and Masai legend postulates that all cattle in the world belong to them.

You will certainly get up close and personal with the inimitable Masai during trips to the Masai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park.

Samburu

The Samburu people are close cousins of the Masai and they share their sense of dressing and culture.

These Kenya people are a semi-nomadic pastoralist community that lives in northern Kenya.

Their lives revolve around cattle, goats and sheep. Root tubers, tree bark and vegetables are also part of the Samburu's diet.

Although their traditional dress is largely similar to that of the Masai, the colorful beadwork worn by the women is a strikingly more elaborate.

You are bound to encounter these Kenya people during a safari to Samburu National Reserve.

Ogiek

The Ogiek, also referred to as the Okiek, are arguably the most discriminated against of all the Kenya tribes. Although they are the largest hunter-gatherer community in East Africa, they number only 10,000 to 20,000.

They are considered to be the aboriginal inhabitants of Kenya with archaeological evidence suggesting that they have inhabited the Mau escarpment for more than 5 millennia.

They have traditionally lived in the Mau Forest. However, the smallest of the Kenya tribes faces further marginalization as they face imminent eviction from their ancestral land in order to protect this precious natural resource from further degradation.

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