Summary
Kenya is a very diverse county with 48 tribes living in 47 counties. Within Kenya, you also have 98 communities, tribes, or groups that self-identify or are classified as either marginalized or minority communities or groups. These marginalized or minority communities or groups have over 3,573,749 people or 9.3% of the Kenyan population.
Galjeel Community
Galjeel is one community scattered in isiolo, tana river, and garissa and largely populated in wajir County…
- Few live in town especially the indigenous first inhabitants of wajir town together with arabs, Asharaf, Harti, sheekhal etc….
- Galjeel is from the somali word Geeljeel means “camel lovers” or those who love camel….. Since they are pastrolists they walk long distance in manyattas of wajir in thr south and east and between towns or counties….. there was a case of Galjeel vs registrar of persons of 2014 case where justice David majanja ruled that ID cards be issued to Galjeel community and affirmed their recognition as kenyans…
List of Marginalized and Minority Communities in Kenya
The following is a list of the 98 Marginalised and Minority communities in Kenya
| No | Community | County(ies) | Population* | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARABS | Taita Taveta, Wajir | 40,760 | A Minority Group of 40, 760 (0.11%), of the population | Township and Central |
| 2 | ASIANS | Kilifi | 81,791 | A Minority Group of 35, 009 (0.21%), of the population | Asian Baluchi are in Old Town, (Makandara Sub Location) |
| 3 | Bajuni | Kilifi/Tana River | Minority | Kilifi(Malindi Town, Gongoni, Ngomeni, Watamu, Kilifi Township, Takaungu, Mtwapa), Tana River(Kipini, Bilisa (Delta)) | |
| 4 | Barawa | Mombasa | Minority | Mombasa (Old Town, Kisauni, Likoni, Kongowea) Wajir (Township and Central | |
| 5 | Barngetuny | Elgeyo Marakwet | |||
| 6 | BASUBA | Migori | 139,271 | As per NCEC this Minority Group has 139,271 (0.36%) of the population | |
| 7 | Bong’omek | Bungoma, Trans Nzoia | |||
| 8 | Boni | Lamu | Minority and Marginalised | Hindi, Witu, Pandanguo (West), Kiunga, Patte, Foza, Basuba(East) | |
| 9 | BORANA | Wajir | 161,399 | As per NCEC this is a Minority Group of,161399(0.42%), of the population | Township, Central, and Buna |
| 10 | Burji | Marsabit | 23,735 | As per NCEC this Minority Group of 23, 735 (0.06%), of the population | Dakabaricha, Mountain, Nagayo, Badass(Central) Manyatta, township (Moyale) |
| 11 | Corner Tribes (Shegal, Warabey, Gabaweih, Sharmuge, Shabelle, Leisah, Marehan, Hawadhi, Ashraaf) | MANDERA | Minority and Marginalised | Bulla Jamhuria, Central, Bulla Mpya, Barwaqo, Township, Kamor, BPI, Neboi, Shafshafay, Garbaqolley, Hare Hosley, Fiko, Karo, Bulla Haji, Bur Abor, Bella, Gingo, Khalalio, Gaudiya | |
| 12 | DASENACH/Daasanach | Marsabit | 12,530 | A Minority Group of,12530(0.03%), of the population | Illeret (North Hoor) |
| 13 | Degodia | MANDERA | Marginalized | Central, Barwaqo, Mandera North. | |
| 14 | Digo | Mombasa | Marginalized | Likoni | |
| 15 | Duruma | Mombasa | Marginalized | Miritini Njomvu | |
| 16 | Elmolo | Marsabit | Minority and Marginalised | Loiyangalani, El Molo Bay(Loiyangalani),Marsabit township | |
| 17 | EMBU | 324,092 | A Minority Group of 324, 092 (0.84%), of the population | ||
| 18 | Endorois | Baringo, Laikipia | |||
| 19 | GABRA | ISIOLO | 89,515 | A Minority Group of,89515(0.23%), of the population | Kambi Juu, Merti, Bulesa, Bisan, Bihiko, Chari, Kon |
| 20 | GALJEEL | Wajir | 7,553 | A Minority Group of 7553 (0.02%), of the population | |
| 21 | GALLA | 8,146 | A Minority Group of 8, 146(0.02%), of the population | ||
| 22 | Garramara | Mandera | |||
| 23 | Garre | Marsabit/Wajir | Minority | Marsabit and Wajir (Hodhan, Central and Bute) | |
| 24 | Giriama | Tana River/Lamu | Minority in Both Tana River and Lamu | Tana River (Wachuoda, Kilelengwani (Delta)) Lamu (Witu, Didewaride, Hindi, Mapenya, Mpeketoni, Langoni,Hongwe, Mkomani, Shella, Matondoni (West) | |
| 25 | GOSHA | 21,864 | A Minority Group of 21,864 (0.06%) of the population | ||
| 26 | Habash | Isiolo | |||
| 27 | Harti | Wajir | Minority | Township and Central | |
| 28 | ILCHAMUS | Baringo | 27,288 | Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of 27,288 (0.07%) of the population | |
| 29 | Ilimanyang’/Ngikebotok | Turkana | |||
| 30 | Indian | MERU/Mombasa/Kwale | MERU (Anjuki, Kianjai, Meru Municipality, Taita Location) Mombasa (Mombasa (Old Town, Tononoka Kwale (Kinango Location)) Kwale (Kwale (Kinango Location) | ||
| 31 | Indians-Badala | Mombasa | Minority | Tudor, Old Town | |
| 32 | ISAAK/Issak | Wajir | 3,160 | A Minority Group of,3160(0.01%), of the population | Township and Central |
| 33 | Issa | Kilifi | |||
| 34 | Kachike, Lichamus | Baringo | |||
| 35 | Kap Chebororwa | Elgeyo Marakwet | |||
| 36 | Kasighau | Taita Taveta | |||
| 37 | Kifundi | Kwale | Minority and Marginalised | Pongwe-Kidimu, Shirazi | |
| 38 | Kiptani | Elgeyo Marakwet | |||
| 39 | KONSO | Marsabit | 1,758 | Minority and Marginalised Group of 1,758 (0%) of the population | Dakabaricha, Nagayo, Mountain, Jirime,sagante (Central), Hurri Hills (North), Rawana (Sololo),Moyale township |
| 40 | Kony | Trans Nzoia | |||
| 41 | KURIA | Migori | 260,401 | According to NCEC Kuria is Nationally a Minority Group of 260401(0.67%) of the population and Marginalised Group in Nairobi. | |
| 42 | Lesan/LEYSAN | isiolo, Mandera, Wajir | 5,941 | A Minority Group of,5941(0.02%), of the population | Isiolo (Garbatulla, Modogashe, Kambi Garba, Sericho) |
| 43 | Lkunono | Marsabit, Samburu | |||
| 44 | Makonde | Mombasa/Kwale | Minority and Marginalised | Mombasa (Likoni, Bamburi, Mtongwe) Kwale (Msambweni,Kidimu-pongwe Kigwende-Shirazi,Kinondo,Diani | |
| 45 | Malakote/ waliwana | Tana River | Minority | Chewele,Madogo,Nanighi, Bura, Maroro (North), Bilisa,Danisa (Delta), Kia Rukungu, Karkocha (Galole) | |
| 46 | MASAI | Narok/Kajiado/Isiola/Wajir/Laikipia | 841,622 | According to NCEC Maasai is a Minority Group in Kenya of 841622 (2.18%) of the population and also a marginalized community. Maasai’s are marginalized in Maasai Laikipia(Ndorobo) ISIOLO (Leparua, Lengwesi) Wajir (Township and Central | |
| 47 | MBEERE | 168,155 | A Minority Group of,168155(0.44%), of the population | ||
| 48 | Munyoyaya/Munyo Yayya | Tana River | Minority | Madogo/Maroro, Sala, Bura, Asako, (North), Chewani, Zubake,Karkache, Kia Rukungu, Ngombeni (Galole), Bilisa (Delta) | |
| 49 | Murule | Wajir | Minority and Marginalised | Township and Central | |
| 50 | Ndorobo/Ilkunono | Isiolo | |||
| 51 | NJEMPS | 5,228 | A Marginalised/Minority community as per NCEC of,5228(0.01%), of the population | ||
| 52 | Nubian | Mombasa | Minority and Marginalised | Majengo,Kingorani, Bamburi | |
| 53 | Nubian/Arera | ISIOLO | Minority | Kambi Garba, Tullu Roba | |
| 54 | Nubian/Nubian | Nairobi, Baringo, Kericho | 15,463 | A Marginalised/Minority community as per NCEC.of,15463(0.04%), of the population | |
| 55 | Nubians | Kwale | Minority and Marginalised | Mazeras | |
| 56 | Nyoka-Pare | Taita Taveta | |||
| 57 | Ogiek | Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok, Uasin Gishu | |||
| 58 | Orma | Mombasa/Lamu | 66,275 | Mombasa (Bamburi) Lamu (Witu, Didewaride, Langoni, Mkomani, Baharini, Matondoni,Mkunumbi, Makowe(West) | Bamburi |
| 59 | Pare | Taita Taveta | |||
| 60 | Pemba | Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa. | |||
| 61 | Pokomo | Lamu | Minority and Marginalised | Witu, Hindi, Mkomani, Langoni (West), Patte (East) | |
| 62 | Rabai | Mombasa | Marginalized | Miritini | |
| 63 | RENDILE | 60,437 | A Marginalised/Minority community as per NCEC of,60437(0.16%), of the population | ||
| 64 | Sagala | Taita Taveta | |||
| 65 | Sakuye | Marsabit | 26,784 | Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of,26784(0.07%), of the population | Dabel, Township, Sololo-mkutano (Moyale), Turbi (Marsabit North), Sagante, Nagayo, Quilta Korma, Mountain(Central) |
| 66 | SAMBURU | 237,179 | A Minority Group of,237179(0.61%), of the population | ||
| 67 | Sanye | Lamu | Minority and Marginalised | Mapenya. Ndambwe, Mkunumbi, Witu, Hindi, Baharini(West), Foza, Patte, Siu (East) | |
| 68 | Shabelle | Mandera | |||
| 69 | Shekhal | Wajir | |||
| 70 | Shona | Kiambu | |||
| 71 | Sidam | Marsabit | Minority | Badasa,Majengo,Shauri yako,Dakabaricha | |
| 72 | Somali | Kilifi/Tana River/Lamu/Kwale | A majority group in Kenya but a Minority group in 4 counties | Kilifi/Tana River (Kilifi (Malindi, Kilifi, Mtwapa) Tana River (Boka, Kamaguru, Bangili, Chavidende, Bura, Hirimani,Wanigi, Chewele (North), Chifiri, Woldena, Zubaki,Makere (Galole), MinjilaChara, Kipini, Mwina (Delta)) Lamu/Kwale (Lamu (Kiunga (East), Mkomani, Witu, Pandanguo, Baharini (West)) Kwale (Mackinnon Road | |
| 73 | SWAHILI | 110,614 | Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of,110614(0.29%), of the population | ||
| 74 | TAITA | 273,519 | A Minority Group of,273519(0.71%), of the population | ||
| 75 | Talai | ||||
| 76 | TAVETA | 20,828 | Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of 208,28 (0.05%), of the population | ||
| 77 | Terik | Nandi, Vihiga | |||
| 78 | TESO | 338,833 | A Minority Group of,338833(0.88%), of the population | ||
| 79 | THARAKA | Tharaka-Nithi | 175,905 | A Minority Group of,175905(0.46%), of the population | |
| 80 | Tswakans | Kwale | Minority and Marginalised | Pongwe-Kidimu | |
| 81 | Turkana | Marsabit | Minority and Marginalised | Jirime, Karare, Nagayo, Dakabaricha, Loiyangalani, Karatina,Karare Schemes (Central), South Horr | |
| 82 | WAAT | Kilifi, Kwale, Marsabit, Taita Taveta, Tana river | 6,900 | A Minority Group of,6900(0.02%), of the population | |
| 83 | WALWANA | 16,803 | Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of 16,803 (0.04%), of the population | ||
| 84 | Wanomvu | Mombasa | Minority | Miritini, Mikindani, Bamburi,Changamwe | |
| 85 | Wapemba | Kwale | Minority and Marginalised | Vanga, Pongwe-Kidimu | |
| 86 | Watta | Kwale/Kilifi/Tana River/Lamu/MANDERA/Marsabit/Isiolo | Minority and Marginalised in 8 Counties | Kwale/Kilifi (Kwale (Mackinnon-road, Kilibasi) Kilifi (Adu, Chamari, Mitangale, All Over, Tsalasini, Tezo) Tana River/Lamu (Tana River (Sala (North), Mikinduni, Chewani, Kia Rukungu (Galole),Bilisa, Wachuodha (Delta),Chewele,Danisa,Chewator) Lamu (Witu (West), Dide Waride,Waradhe,Seti. “MANDERA (Central, Kamor, Barwaqo) Marsabit/Isiolo (North Hoor, Malabot, Dukana,(North Hoor), Maikona, Kalacha,Hurri Hills, Turbi (North), Darib Gomba, Sagante, Quilta,Dakabaricha, Mountain, Jirime, Nagayo (Saku), Butiye Sololo,Makutano (Moyale),Somare,Uran Odha. ISIOLO (Garba Tulla, Sericho, Endera, Chari)” | |
| 87 | Wavumba | Kwale | Minority and Marginalised | Kasini, Vanga | |
| 88 | Yaaku | Laikipia | Minority and Marginalised | ||
| Total Population | 3,573,749 | 9.3 % of the Population |
Definition of Special Interest Groups (SIG) or Marginalised and Minority Communities found in Kenya,
The Constitution of Kenya 2010, Under Article 260, Constitution provides an understanding of the marginalized, indigenous, and minorities as follows;
“Marginalized community” means—
- A community that, because of its relatively small population or for any other reason, has been unable to fully participate in the integrated social and economic life of Kenya as a whole;
- A traditional community that, out of a need or desire to preserve its unique culture and identity from assimilation has remained outside the integrated social and economic life of Kenya as a whole;
- An indigenous community that has retained and maintained a traditional lifestyle livelihood based on a hunter or gatherer economy; or Pastoral persons and communities, whether they are—
- Nomadic; or
- a settled community that, because of its relative geographic isolation, has experienced only marginal participation in the integrated social and economic life of Kenya as a whole;
Minorities under international law
Adopted by consensus in 1992, the United Nations Minorities Declaration in its article 1 refers to minorities as based on national or ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity, and provides that States should protect their existence. According to a definition offered in 1977 by Francesco Capotorti, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, a minority is
- A group numerically inferior to the rest of the population of a State, in a non-dominant position, whose members
- -being nationals of the State – possess ethnic, religious or linguistic characteristics differing from those of the rest of the population and show, if only implicitly, a sense of solidarity, directed towards preserving their culture, traditions, religion or language.
The following is a list of Marginalised and Minority Groups in Kenya
References
- SURVEY REPORT ON MARGINALISED AREAS and COUNTIES IN KENYA, CRA
- Flares-of-marginalization-in-Kenya,
- Regional disparities and marginalization in Kenya, © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2012
- REPORT ON THE VULNERABLE AND MARGINALISED GROUPS KENYA, © Ministry of Education 2017
- Kenya National Population Census 2019, © Government of Kenya
