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

NoCommunityCounty(ies)Population*StatusLocation
1ARABSTaita Taveta, Wajir40,760A Minority Group of 40, 760 (0.11%), of the populationTownship and Central
2ASIANSKilifi81,791A Minority Group of 35, 009 (0.21%), of the populationAsian Baluchi are in Old Town, (Makandara Sub Location)
3BajuniKilifi/Tana RiverMinorityKilifi(Malindi Town, Gongoni, Ngomeni, Watamu, Kilifi Township, Takaungu, Mtwapa), Tana River(Kipini, Bilisa (Delta))
4BarawaMombasaMinorityMombasa (Old Town, Kisauni, Likoni, Kongowea) Wajir (Township and Central
5BarngetunyElgeyo Marakwet
6BASUBAMigori139,271As per NCEC this Minority Group has 139,271 (0.36%) of the population
7Bong’omekBungoma, Trans Nzoia
8BoniLamuMinority and MarginalisedHindi, Witu, Pandanguo (West), Kiunga, Patte, Foza, Basuba(East)
9BORANAWajir161,399As per NCEC this is a Minority Group of,161399(0.42%), of the populationTownship, Central, and Buna
10BurjiMarsabit23,735As per NCEC this Minority Group of 23, 735 (0.06%), of the populationDakabaricha, Mountain, Nagayo, Badass(Central) Manyatta, township (Moyale)
11Corner Tribes (Shegal, Warabey, Gabaweih, Sharmuge, Shabelle, Leisah, Marehan, Hawadhi, Ashraaf)MANDERAMinority and MarginalisedBulla Jamhuria, Central, Bulla Mpya, Barwaqo, Township, Kamor, BPI, Neboi, Shafshafay, Garbaqolley, Hare Hosley, Fiko, Karo, Bulla Haji, Bur Abor, Bella, Gingo, Khalalio, Gaudiya
12DASENACH/DaasanachMarsabit12,530A Minority Group of,12530(0.03%), of the populationIlleret (North Hoor)
13DegodiaMANDERAMarginalizedCentral, Barwaqo, Mandera North.
14DigoMombasaMarginalizedLikoni
15DurumaMombasaMarginalizedMiritini Njomvu
16ElmoloMarsabitMinority and MarginalisedLoiyangalani, El Molo Bay(Loiyangalani),Marsabit township
17EMBU324,092A Minority Group of 324, 092 (0.84%), of the population
18EndoroisBaringo, Laikipia
19GABRAISIOLO89,515A Minority Group of,89515(0.23%), of the populationKambi Juu, Merti, Bulesa, Bisan, Bihiko, Chari, Kon
20GALJEELWajir7,553A Minority Group of 7553 (0.02%), of the population
21GALLA8,146A Minority Group of 8, 146(0.02%), of the population
22GarramaraMandera
23GarreMarsabit/WajirMinorityMarsabit and Wajir (Hodhan, Central and Bute)
24GiriamaTana River/LamuMinority in Both Tana River and LamuTana River (Wachuoda, Kilelengwani (Delta)) Lamu (Witu, Didewaride, Hindi, Mapenya, Mpeketoni, Langoni,Hongwe, Mkomani, Shella, Matondoni (West)
25GOSHA21,864A Minority Group of 21,864 (0.06%) of the population
26HabashIsiolo
27HartiWajirMinorityTownship and Central
28ILCHAMUSBaringo27,288Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of 27,288 (0.07%) of the population
29Ilimanyang’/NgikebotokTurkana
30IndianMERU/Mombasa/KwaleMERU (Anjuki, Kianjai, Meru Municipality, Taita Location) Mombasa (Mombasa (Old Town, Tononoka Kwale (Kinango Location)) Kwale (Kwale (Kinango Location)
31Indians-BadalaMombasaMinorityTudor, Old Town
32ISAAK/IssakWajir3,160A Minority Group of,3160(0.01%), of the populationTownship and Central
33IssaKilifi
34Kachike, LichamusBaringo
35Kap ChebororwaElgeyo Marakwet
36KasighauTaita Taveta
37KifundiKwaleMinority and MarginalisedPongwe-Kidimu, Shirazi
38KiptaniElgeyo Marakwet
39KONSOMarsabit1,758Minority and Marginalised Group of 1,758 (0%) of the populationDakabaricha, Nagayo, Mountain, Jirime,sagante (Central), Hurri Hills (North), Rawana (Sololo),Moyale township
40KonyTrans Nzoia
41KURIAMigori260,401According to NCEC Kuria is Nationally a Minority Group of 260401(0.67%) of the population and Marginalised Group in Nairobi.
42Lesan/LEYSANisiolo, Mandera, Wajir5,941A Minority Group of,5941(0.02%), of the populationIsiolo (Garbatulla, Modogashe, Kambi Garba, Sericho)
43LkunonoMarsabit, Samburu
44MakondeMombasa/KwaleMinority and MarginalisedMombasa (Likoni, Bamburi, Mtongwe) Kwale (Msambweni,Kidimu-pongwe Kigwende-Shirazi,Kinondo,Diani
45Malakote/ waliwanaTana RiverMinorityChewele,Madogo,Nanighi, Bura, Maroro (North), Bilisa,Danisa (Delta), Kia Rukungu, Karkocha (Galole)
46MASAINarok/Kajiado/Isiola/Wajir/Laikipia841,622According 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
47MBEERE168,155A Minority Group of,168155(0.44%), of the population
48Munyoyaya/Munyo YayyaTana RiverMinorityMadogo/Maroro, Sala, Bura, Asako, (North), Chewani, Zubake,Karkache, Kia Rukungu, Ngombeni (Galole), Bilisa (Delta)
49MuruleWajirMinority and MarginalisedTownship and Central
50Ndorobo/IlkunonoIsiolo
51NJEMPS5,228A Marginalised/Minority community as per NCEC of,5228(0.01%), of the population
52NubianMombasaMinority and MarginalisedMajengo,Kingorani, Bamburi
53Nubian/AreraISIOLOMinorityKambi Garba, Tullu Roba
54Nubian/NubianNairobi, Baringo, Kericho15,463A Marginalised/Minority community as per NCEC.of,15463(0.04%), of the population
55NubiansKwaleMinority and MarginalisedMazeras
56Nyoka-PareTaita Taveta
57OgiekBaringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok, Uasin Gishu
58OrmaMombasa/Lamu66,275Mombasa (Bamburi) Lamu (Witu, Didewaride, Langoni, Mkomani, Baharini, Matondoni,Mkunumbi, Makowe(West)Bamburi
59PareTaita Taveta
60PembaKilifi, Kwale, Mombasa.
61PokomoLamuMinority and MarginalisedWitu, Hindi, Mkomani, Langoni (West), Patte (East)
62RabaiMombasaMarginalizedMiritini
63RENDILE60,437A Marginalised/Minority community as per NCEC of,60437(0.16%), of the population
64SagalaTaita Taveta
65SakuyeMarsabit26,784Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of,26784(0.07%), of the populationDabel, Township, Sololo-mkutano (Moyale), Turbi (Marsabit North), Sagante, Nagayo, Quilta Korma, Mountain(Central)
66SAMBURU237,179A Minority Group of,237179(0.61%), of the population
67SanyeLamuMinority and MarginalisedMapenya. Ndambwe, Mkunumbi, Witu, Hindi, Baharini(West), Foza, Patte, Siu (East)
68ShabelleMandera
69ShekhalWajir
70ShonaKiambu
71SidamMarsabitMinorityBadasa,Majengo,Shauri yako,Dakabaricha
72SomaliKilifi/Tana River/Lamu/KwaleA majority group in Kenya but a Minority group in 4 countiesKilifi/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
73SWAHILI110,614Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of,110614(0.29%), of the population
74TAITA273,519A Minority Group of,273519(0.71%), of the population
75Talai
76TAVETA20,828Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of 208,28 (0.05%), of the population
77TerikNandi, Vihiga
78TESO338,833A Minority Group of,338833(0.88%), of the population
79THARAKATharaka-Nithi175,905A Minority Group of,175905(0.46%), of the population
80TswakansKwaleMinority and MarginalisedPongwe-Kidimu
81TurkanaMarsabitMinority and MarginalisedJirime, Karare, Nagayo, Dakabaricha, Loiyangalani, Karatina,Karare Schemes (Central), South Horr
82WAATKilifi, Kwale, Marsabit, Taita Taveta, Tana river6,900A Minority Group of,6900(0.02%), of the population
83WALWANA16,803Marginalized/Minority community as per NCEC of 16,803 (0.04%), of the population
84WanomvuMombasaMinorityMiritini, Mikindani, Bamburi,Changamwe
85WapembaKwaleMinority and MarginalisedVanga, Pongwe-Kidimu
86WattaKwale/Kilifi/Tana River/Lamu/MANDERA/Marsabit/IsioloMinority and Marginalised in 8 CountiesKwale/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)”
87WavumbaKwaleMinority and MarginalisedKasini, Vanga
88YaakuLaikipiaMinority and Marginalised
Total Population 3,573,7499.3 % 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—

  1. 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;
  2. 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;
  3. 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—
    1. Nomadic; or
    2. 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

  1. SURVEY REPORT ON MARGINALISED AREAS and COUNTIES IN KENYA, CRA
  2. Flares-of-marginalization-in-Kenya,
  3. Regional disparities and marginalization in Kenya, © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2012
  4. REPORT ON THE VULNERABLE AND MARGINALISED GROUPS KENYA, © Ministry of Education 2017
  5. Kenya National Population Census 2019, © Government of Kenya