KENYAN TRIBES

Kenya Tribes

There are over 40 different tribes in Kenya. These tribes are of different sizes ranging from those that have millions of members to smallest tribe – the El Molo that have only 300 members.

Most of the large tribes like the Kalenjin, Luhya and Mijikenda are comprised of smaller sub groups. The Kenyan tribes are categorized by the language they speak. The three main language groups are the Bantu, Nilotes and Cushites. 

A vast majority of Kenyans are fluent in more than one language. They speak their mother tongue, the national language Kiswahili and English which is an official language in the country.

Ethnic identity in Kenya is very prominent with most people identifying themselves first with their ethnic nations then Kenya second. The ethnic identity determines political choices, employment rates and marriage.

BANTU:

Eastern Bantu:

Kikuyu

Akamba

 Meru

Embu

Tharaka

Mbere

Mikikenda

Swahili

Pokomo

Segeju

Taveta

Taita

Western Bantu

Kisii

Kuria

Luhya

NILOTES:

Plains Nilotes:

Maasai

Samburu

Teso

Turkana

Elmolo

Njemps

Highland Nilotes:

Kalenjin

Lake River Nilotes:

Luo

CUSHITES:

Rendille

Somali

Boran

Gabbra

Orma

Boni

Points of interest:

Kikuyu – The largest ethnic community in Kenya

Mikikenda – Comprised of nine sub groups;

                        Duruma, Digo, Kambe, Chonyi, Giriama, Rabai

Swahili – The community that gave Kenya its national language Kiswahili

Luhya – The second largest ethnic community. Has several sub tribes.

                 Bukusu, Maragoli, Isukha, Idakho, Wanga, Tiriki, Tachoni

Maasai – the most famous Kenyan tribe. Renowned for their well preserved culture.

Elmolo – The smallest ethnic community in Kenya. Comprised of 300 individuals.

Njemps – One of the smallest tribes in Kenya. They occupy a hilly island in Lake Baringo.

Kalenjin – The Kalenjin community has several sub tribes.

                    Sabaot, Nandi, Kipsigis, Tugen, Pokot, Marakwet, Keiyo, Sengwer, 

Somali – The Somali community are predominantly Islamic. Over 95% of Somalis are Muslims.

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KENYA LAKE SYSTEM

Kenya Lake System

The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley, a natural property of outstanding beauty and diversity was the first to be added to UNESCO's World Heritage List during the current committee session.The Kenya Lakes System consists of three separate but geologically and ecologically related lakes. The lakes are; Lake Elementaita (6,300 ha), Lake Nakuru (18,800ha) and Lake Bogoria (10,700ha) all of which lie in basins on the floor of the Great Rift Valley which transects Kenya North-South. All the three lakes are shallow, alkaline and are hydro-geologically connected through sub surface seepage of water. The alkalinity of the three lakes supports the abundant growth of the green algae (spirulina platensis) which is the food of the lesser flamingoes which congregate in the lakes in great numbers.

Flamingoes on Lake Nakuru

Coordinates:

Lake Elementaita: S0 15 E36 01

Lake Nakuru: S0 17 E36 01

Lake Bogoria: N0 15 E36 06



 Lake Elementaita

Lake Elementaita is situated 100 Km NNW of Nairobi and lies at altitude of 1670 metres ASL. It is fed by hot springs at its southern end and two small streams; the Mereroni Kariandusi and Mbaruk flowing from the Eastern plateau. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rocky faults, volcanic out crops and cones. To the east, the lake is flanked by small scale agriculture while Ututu and Soysambu wildlife conservancies surround the remainder.

Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru is 160 Km from Nairobi and is at an altitude of 1750 metres ASL. It is bordered by Nakuru Town on its eastern side while on the western side is the Nakuru National Park. The catchment area of the lake includes Menengai Crater and Bahati highlands to the north and north-east respectively while to the west is the Mau escarpment. The major source of water that feed surface flow to the lake are the Njoro, Makalia and Nderit Rivers while Baharini Springs close the shore of the lake also contribute to the surface flow.

Lake Bogoria

Lake Bogoria is 275 Km from Nairobi and lies at altitude of 1,000 metres ASL. It is bounded by the Siracho escarpment eastern side while the western side is characterized by a relatively flat shore with a series of hot springs and geysers. The lakes catchment area is the Subukia highlands with the main surface flow of water being the Waiseges River.

Why they became world heritage sites:

The three lakes are a network that constitutes the most significant natural habitat for in-situ conservation of threatened and endangered species. The habitat:

• Sustains 75% of the global population of the lesser flamingo making this one of the greatest ornithological spectacles on earth.

• Supports one of the major breeding colonies of the great white pelicans

• Provides a vital wintering ground for over 100 species of migratory birds and is part of the palaeartic African migratory flyway system.

• The three lakes share faulted geological landscape and hydro-geological connectivity and Lake Bogoria particularly has the highest concentration of true geysers in Africa.

• Rare mammals such as black rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dogs inhabit the area.

• Thirteen globally threatened bird species are found on the 32,034 hectare site, which has some of the highest bird diversities in the world.

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MT ELGON

Mt. Elgon
Mt. Elgon is the second highest mountain in Kenya. The mountain straddles the Kenya-Uganda border. The name Elgon is a corruption of a Maasai word. The Maasai  called the mountain Ol doinyo loo lkony or the  mountain of the Il-kony. Il-kony refers to the Sabaot people who live on the slopes of Mount Elgon. The Sabaots are a part of the Kalenjin community.



Quick Facts:
Height:  4321 metres or 14,178 ft.
Peaks: 
Wagagai - 4321 metres Uganda
Sudek - 4,302m  Kenya
Koitobos - 4,222m KenyaStatus: extinct volcano
Age: 24 million years

Mount Elgon has the largest surface area of any extinct volcano in the world (50 km by 80 km ). Mt. Elgon It contains the largest intact caldera, a collapsed crater covering over 40kms at the top of the mountain, sorrounded by a series of rugged peaks

Vegetation
Dense montane forest
Bamboo
Heath and moorland
Giant lobelia and groundsels

Wildlife
 Black and White Colobus Monkey,
Blue Monkey,
Birds such as
Golden Winged and Tacazze sunbirds, Ross's and Hartlaubs Turacos, Black and White Casqued and Crowned Hornbills, the endangered Lammergeier and the Jackson's Francolin.
Buffalo,
Duiker,
Hyena
Leopard.
Elephant

Mount Elgon is sorrounded by the Mount Elgon National park on the Kenyan side and the main entrance is at Suam in Kitale

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MOUNT KENYA

Mt. Kenya
This is the mountain that gave the country its name. The name Kenya comes from the Maasai word "erokenya", which means mist or snow. The Maasai called the mountain Oldonyo Le-rukenya in reference to its snow-capped peaks and enveloping foggy cloud. Another popular Maasai name for Mt Kenya is Oldoinyo Keri, meaning striped mountain. Mt. Kenya, fittingly is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa.

Quick Facts:
Age: 3 and a half million years old
Status: extinct volcano
Height: 5,199m (17,057 ft) tall.
Peaks: Batian - 5,199m (17057 ft) tall.
            Nelion - 5,188m (17,021 ft) t
            Lenana - 4,985 meter (16,355 ft)

Nelion peak is the hardest to climb only experienced mountaineers should attempt to climb. Lenana Summit however is ideal for amateur climbers. It’s possible to hike to the Lenana summit of Mount Kenya without mountaineering experience.


The peak is permanently covered by snow and glaciers. The upper reaches of the mountain has unique forms of flora and fauna.

Flora
Bamboo
Montane forest
Moorland and
Tundra
Alpine and sub-alpine flora.
These include tufts of tussock grassland, Spanish moss, giant groundsels and giant lobelia that have adapted to the treacherous mountainous climate.

Fauna
Leopards,
African elephants,
Black rhino,
Buffalo, 
Giant forest hog.
MonkeyS
 Hyrax species 


Mount Kenya is surrounded at its base by the Mount Kenya National Park, which is a popular tourist attraction. There are several lodges and hotels around Mt. Kenya.

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LANDSCAPE

Kenya's landscape ranks among the most fascinating and diverse the world over. From the low-lying coastlands to the snow capped Mt. Kenya that rises to 17,058ft. above sea level. From the tree dotted plains to the jaggered escarpment that marks the sudden drop into the floor of the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley that is littered with alkaline lakes.

From the coast, on the Indian Ocean, - 500 kilometers of coral reef fringed by the most beautiful talcum-soft white sandy beaches, the Low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley; a fertile plateau in the east. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa.

The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya (and the second highest in Africa): Mount Kenya, on the Equator line which reaches 5,199 m (17,057 ft) has peaks covered with snow and it is ringed by tropical rainforests.The landscape also comprises of lush agricultural fields, savanna grasslands, and the world's second largest freshwater lake - Lake Victoria that is shared by three East African Countries.

Mountains: 

• Mount Kenya - Height 5199 metres - second highest mountain in Africa.Although it is on the equator, the top of the mountain (or the summit) is always covered with snow.

• Mount Elgon - (4,321m) - on the border between Kenya and Uganda.It is a volcanic mountain

• Mount Longonot -  (2777 m)A dormant volcano in the Rift Valley

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