Published: November 11, 2026
About one Kenyan in six is Kikuyu. That single fact shapes the country's politics, its languages and its culture more than any other, and this ranking shows how far ahead the lead is. Kenya counts more than 40 communities, but the top five alone hold two in every three Kenyans.
The ranking applies the ethnic shares from Kenya's 2019 census to the country's 2026 population of 58,636,412 from the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024. The census is the latest official count of Kenya's communities, and the next one is due in 2029. This is the fourth entry in our series ranking the tribes of every African country, after Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
Key Facts
- The Kikuyu rank first with 10.0 million people, 17.13 percent of Kenya, 1.19 times the Luhya in second place.
- The Kikuyu and Luhya together number 18.5 million people, 31.48 percent of the country, nearly one in three Kenyans.
- The top five groups pass two thirds of the country: Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo and Kamba together are 38.3 million people, 65.30 percent.
- The ten ranked groups together cover 52.0 million people, 88.72 percent of Kenya. The rest is mostly smaller communities, led by the Turkana at 1.3 million.
- The Kikuyu alone outnumber the bottom three ranked groups combined, 10.0 million people against 7.0 million for the Mijikenda, Meru and Maasai together.
| Rank | Tribe | Share of Kenya | Population (2026) | Main Homeland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kikuyu | 17.13% | 10,045,532 | Central Kenya and Nairobi |
| 2 | Luhya | 14.35% | 8,412,310 | Western Kenya |
| 3 | Kalenjin | 13.37% | 7,838,168 | Rift Valley |
| 4 | Luo | 10.65% | 6,246,465 | Nyanza, Lake Victoria basin |
| 5 | Kamba | 9.81% | 5,749,585 | Eastern Kenya |
| 6 | Somali | 5.85% | 3,427,753 | North Eastern Kenya |
| 7 | Kisii | 5.68% | 3,332,500 | Kisii and Nyamira counties |
| 8 | Mijikenda | 5.23% | 3,068,014 | Coastal Kenya |
| 9 | Meru | 4.15% | 2,435,816 | Mount Kenya, eastern slopes |
| 10 | Maasai | 2.50% | 1,466,421 | Kajiado and Narok counties |
The shares in this table are the 2019 census shares, applied to the 2026 population. The census records the community each person names, so the totals reflect self-identification. The 2026 figures are estimates that hold the 2019 shares constant, and the Methodology explains the limits.
The first name outside the ranking is the Turkana, at 1,252,721 people in 2026, just 213,700 behind the Maasai. The Turkana are the third largest Nilotic people in Kenya, after the Luo and the Kalenjin. The next group, the Teso, is far behind at 514,896 people, so the cut at ten is clean and no group was squeezed out by a rounding call.
1. Kikuyu: 10,045,532
The Kikuyu are Kenya's largest people by a clear margin. They live mainly in Central Kenya, in Murang'a, Nyeri, Kiambu and Kirinyaga counties, and they are also the largest group in Nairobi. Mount Kenya, called Kirinyaga in Kikuyu, is sacred in Kikuyu belief. Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, was Kikuyu, as was his successor Mwai Kibaki. At 17.13 percent, the Kikuyu are the only group above one in six Kenyans, and they lead the Luhya by 1,633,222 people.
2. Luhya: 8,412,310
The Luhya are the people of Western Kenya, in Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga counties. The census records 18 named Luhya sub-tribes, and the largest is the Bukusu, at 1,188,963 people in 2019, or 17.4 percent of all Luhya. More than half of Luhya people, 3,944,257 in 2019, gave no sub-tribe and identified simply as Luhya. At 14.35 percent, the Luhya are about one Kenyan in seven.
3. Kalenjin: 7,838,168
The Kalenjin are the people of the Rift Valley, in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties. The census records 17 named Kalenjin sub-tribes, and the largest is the Kipsigis, at 1,905,983 people in 2019, almost exactly 30.0 percent of all Kalenjin. Kenya's most famous long-distance runners are Kalenjin, including Eliud Kipchoge, who ran the first sub-two-hour marathon. At 13.37 percent, the Kalenjin complete a top three that together holds 44.85 percent of Kenya.
4. Luo: 6,246,465
The Luo live around Lake Victoria, in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori counties. They speak Dholuo, and they are the largest Nilotic group in Kenya. The Luo are famous for their fishermen, their musicians and their politicians, and Barack Obama Sr., the father of the former United States president, was Luo, from Nyang'oma Kogelo in Siaya County. At 10.65 percent, the Luo are the last group above one in ten Kenyans, and together with the Kamba they number 12.0 million people, about one in five.
5. Kamba: 5,749,585
The Kamba, also called the Akamba, are the people of Eastern Kenya, in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties. They are known for their wood carvings, sold across Kenya, and for their long history as traders and long-distance travellers. At 9.81 percent, the Kamba close a top five that together holds 65.30 percent of the country, about two in three Kenyans.
6. Somali: 3,427,753
The Somali live mainly in North Eastern Kenya, in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties. The census records nine Somali clans, and the largest is the Ogaden, at 697,566 people in 2019, or 25.1 percent of all Kenyan Somalis. Most Kenyan Somalis are Muslim, and the community is largely pastoralist. At 5.85 percent, the Somali are the largest group in the lower half of the table, and the first group below four million people.
7. Kisii: 3,332,500
The Kisii, also called the Gusii or Abagusii, live in Kisii and Nyamira counties in the south-west. They are known for their soapstone carvings, cut from the soft stone of the Tabaka hills and sold around the world. At 5.68 percent and 3.3 million people, the Kisii sit 95,253 people behind the Somali above them, and 264,486 ahead of the Mijikenda below them.
8. Mijikenda: 3,068,014
The Mijikenda, whose name means "the nine tribes", live along the coast, in Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa counties. The census records nine Mijikenda sub-tribes, and the largest is the Giriama, at 1,007,653 people in 2019, or 40.5 percent of all Mijikenda. The sacred Kaya forests of the Mijikenda are a UNESCO World Heritage site. At 5.23 percent, the Mijikenda are the largest coastal group in the ranking.
9. Meru: 2,435,816
The Meru, or Ameru, live on the eastern and northern slopes of Mount Kenya, in Meru County and the country around it. They farm the rich volcanic soils of the mountain, and the county is known for the miraa trade. At 4.15 percent, the Meru are the first group below 2.5 million people, and they sit 632,198 people behind the Mijikenda above them.
10. Maasai: 1,466,421
The Maasai are the most famous Kenyan tribe in the world, yet they rank only tenth at home. They are Maa-speaking pastoralists of Kajiado and Narok counties, in the south, and their red shuka cloth, beadwork and jumping dance are known everywhere. The Maasai Mara, Kenya's most famous wildlife reserve, lies in Maasai land. At 2.50 percent, exactly one Kenyan in forty, the Maasai close the ranking just 213,700 people ahead of the Turkana.
Frequently Asked Questions
How were the 2026 figures worked out?
Each figure applies the group's share from the 2019 census to Kenya's 2026 population of 58,636,412 from the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024. The census counted 47,564,296 people in August 2019. The method holds the 2019 shares constant, so the 2026 numbers are estimates, not a new count.
Older sources say the Kikuyu are 22 percent of Kenya. Why does this ranking say 17 percent?
Because the older figure came from estimates made before the 2019 census. The census counted 8,148,668 Kikuyu out of 47,564,296 people, which is 17.13 percent, and the CIA World Factbook now uses the same census figure. The 22 percent number is out of date and is not used here.
Are the Luhya, Kalenjin, Somali and Mijikenda single tribes?
They are umbrella groups made of many sub-tribes. The census records the sub-tribes separately, and this ranking uses the family totals from the same census table. No sub-tribe count has been added on top of a family total, so nothing is double counted. The largest sub-tribes are the Bukusu among the Luhya, the Kipsigis among the Kalenjin, the Ogaden among the Somali and the Giriama among the Mijikenda.
Why do the Maasai rank only tenth when they are Kenya's most famous tribe?
Because fame and numbers are different things. The Maasai number 1,466,421 people in 2026, or 2.50 percent of Kenya, exactly one Kenyan in forty. Their culture travels the world, but nine larger groups live in Kenya, and the census counts people, not renown.
What about the Turkana, who just miss the list?
The Turkana number 1,252,721 people in 2026, or 2.14 percent, just 213,700 behind the Maasai. They are the third largest Nilotic group in Kenya, after the Luo and the Kalenjin, and they live mainly in Turkana County in the north-west. The next group, the Teso, is far behind at 514,896 people, so the cut at ten is clean.
Data Sources
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Volume IV, Table 2.31 (Distribution of Population by Ethnicity/Nationality): africacheck.org (KNBS PDF)
- CIA World Factbook, Kenya, ethnic groups (2019 est.): cia.gov/the-world-factbook
- Business Radar, "Population of Kenya by Tribe: 2019 Census Figures" (October 18, 2026), reporting the KNBS census table: businessradar.co.ke
- Stats Kenya, "Number of people in Kenya by Tribe and Ethnicity", citing KNBS Volumes I and IV: statskenya.co.ke
- United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024 (Kenya population, 2026): population.un.org/wpp
Methodology
Every figure in the table applies an ethnic share from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2019 census, Volume IV, Table 2.31, to Kenya's 2026 population of 58,636,412 (UN World Population Prospects 2024). The census was taken in August 2019 and counted 47,564,296 people. It records the community each person names, so the shares reflect self-identification. The shares were corroborated against the CIA World Factbook's Kenya ethnic breakdown, which matches the census shares to one decimal place for every ranked group, and against two independent readings of the same census table, Business Radar and Stats Kenya. The 2026 figures are estimates that hold the 2019 shares constant; the next census is due in 2029, so no newer official ethnic count exists.
No Joshua Project figures are used: the census itemises more than 40 communities, so there is no gap for a second source to fill, and no sub-tribe count has been added on top of a family total. The Embu, Tharaka and Mbeere are counted separately from the Meru in the census and are not folded into the Meru total. The ten ranked groups sum cleanly to 88.72 percent of Kenya. Every derived claim in the article (the top five at 65.30 percent, the Kikuyu lead of 1,633,222, the Kikuyu outnumbering the bottom three combined, the Maasai lead over the Turkana of 213,700) was recomputed from the final table values by script before publication.
