Kalenjin people
The Kalenjin are a group of tribes indigenous to East Africa, residing mainly in what was formerly the Rift Valley Province in Kenya and the Eastern slopes of Mount Elgon in Uganda. They number 6,358,113 individuals per the Kenyan 2019 census and an estimated 273,839 in Uganda according to the 2014 census mainly in Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo districts.
Biikap Kuutiit ('Speech community'), Miot | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 6,641,952 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Kenya | 6,358,113 |
| Uganda | 273,839 |
| Tanzania | 10,000 |
| Languages | |
| |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Kalenjin Mythology | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Daasanach people, Datooga people and Omotik people | |
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| Culture of Kenya |
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The Kalenjin have been divided into 11 culturally and linguistically related tribes: Kipsigis (1.9 million), Nandi (937,000), Pokots (778, 000), Sebei (350, 000), Sabaot (296,000), Keiyo (251, 000), Tugen (197, 556), Cherengany 8, 323, Marakwet (119, 000), Ogiek (52, 000), Terik (323, 230), Lembus (71,600) and Sengwer (10, 800). The Kalenjin speak the Nandi–Markweta languages but can also be inclusive of Akie language in Tanzania and Pokot language spoken in Kenya; all being classified collectively as Kalenjin Language; while in combination with Datooga languages of Tanzania, this cluster is called Southern Nilotic languages. The Kalenjin language, along with the languages of the Datooga people of Tanzania, the Maasai, Luo, Turkana, Nuer, Dinka among others are classified as Nilotic languages.