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Population and People

Kenya’s population in 2001was estimated at 30,765,900 and is made up almost entirely of Africans, with small (although influential) minorities of Asian (about 80,000), Arabs (about 30,000), and Europeans (about 30,000). The population growth rate, currently at 2.8%, has slowed in the last few years due to the soaring incidence of HIV/AIDS, which is estimated to infect 15% of adults. 

Accordingto2001 UN figures, life expectancy in Kenya is 52 years, although some sources place it as low as 47, due to HIV/AIDS. Only 42% of the population has access to clean drinking water, but 87% are now thought to have access to adequate sanitation. The infant mortality rate is 65 per 1000 births (an increase from 1997 figures) an 51% of the population is under 18.

Africans

Kenya is home to more than 70 tribal groups. The most distinguishing feature between the tribes is language. The majority of Kenyan African falls into two major language groups: the Bantu and the Nilotic. The Bantu arrived in East Africa in waves from West Africa after 500BC, and included Kikuyu, Meru, Gusii, Embu, Akamba and Luyha, as well as the Mijikenda, who preceded the Swahili in many parts of the coast.

Nilotic speakers migrated into the area from the Nile Valley some time later. This group includes the Maasai, Turkana, Samburu, Pokot, Luo and Kalenjin, which together with the Bantu speakers account for 90% of Kenya’s African population. The Kikuyu and the Luo are by far the most numerous groups, and between them hold practically all the positions of power and influence in the country. 

A third language grouping is the Cushitic speakers. They occupy the northeast of the country and include such tribes as El-Molo, Somali, Rendille and Galia. 

On the coast, Swahili is the name given to the local people, who, although they have various tribal ancestries, have intermarried with Arabs settlers over the centuries and now have a predominantly Arabic culture.

See Tribes of Kenya form more details on the major groups and their cultures.

Asian

India’s connections with East Africa go back to the days of the spice trade, but the first permanent settlers from the Indian subcontinent were indentured workers, brought here from Gujarat and the Punjah by the British to build the Uganda Railway. After the railway was finished, the British allowed many workers to stay and start up businesses and hundreds of “dukas” (small shops) were set up across the country.


Asian numbers were augmented after WWII and the Indian community came to control large sectors of the East African economy, however, they offered little support in politics leading to Independence nor did they accept local citizenship after. This earned the distrust of the African community, who felt the Indians were there simply to exploit African labor.

Although Kenya escaped anti-Asian pogroms that plagued Uganda during the rule of Idi Amin, thousand of shops owned by Asians were confiscated and Asians were forbidden to trade in rural areas. Fortunately, Kenya has learned from the lessons of the economic collapse in Uganda and calls to ”go home” have faded from the political agenda.