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How Many Languages are Spoken in Kenya – Languages and Dialects

Kenya is diverse with many languages and dialects spoken across the country. This is in addition to its diverse number of tribes and ethnicities. According to Ethnologue, Kenya had 68 living languages as of 2024[1].

Quick Facts

  1. Kenya had 68 living languages in 2024.
  2. The total number of indigenous languages was 61.
  3. Most Kenyan languages (56.7%) are from the Niger-Congo Family.
  4. Kenya had seven living non-indigenous languages including English.
  5. Kenya had one extinct indigenous language called Singa.

Concepts and definitions

A living language is one where at least one person speaks it as a first language.[2] For instance, Luo is a living language in that many people in Kenya speak it as their first language.

As of 2024, Kenya had 68 living languages, of which 61 were indigenous languages.

Indigenous languages are those that are native to a region or country. These languages do not necessarily need to be the national languages of the country.

For instance, even though English is an official language in Kenya, it is not an indigenous language.

If a language is not living, then it is extinct. Kenya has one extinct language called Singa.

The status of languages in Kenya can be known through vitality counts, which tell us whether an indigenous language is institutional, stable, endangered, or extinct.

As of 2024, Kenya had 37 stable languages, 18 institutional ones, six endangered languages, and one extinct language.[3]

Bar chart showing indigenous language vitality count in Kenya. As of 2024, Kenya had 37 stable languages, 18 institutional languages, 6 endangered languages, and 1 extinct language.

List of living languages in Kenya

Below is a list of all living languages in Kenya. These are languages with at least one person speaking them as their first language.

Language ID*

Language Name

acx

Arabic, Oman

bji

Burji

bob

Aweer

bxk

Bukusu

coh

Chichonyi-Chidzihana-Chikauma

cuh

Gichuka

dal

Dahalo

dav

Dawida

dig

Chidigo

dsh

Daasanach

dug

Chiduruma

ebu

Kiembu

elo

El Molo

enb

Markweeta

eng

English

eyo

Keiyo

gax

Borana

gex

Garre

gom

Konkani, Goan

guj

Gujarati

guz

Ekegusii

ida

Luidakho-Luisukha-Lutirichi

kam

Kamba

kcn

Nubi

kik

Gikuyu

kuj

Kuria

lkb

Lukabaras

lko

Olukhayo

lks

Olushisa

lri

Olumarachi

lrm

Olumarama

lsm

Olusamia

lto

Olutsotso

lts

Lutachoni

luo

Dholuo

lwg

Oluwanga

mas

Maasai

mer

Kimîîru

mlk

Kiwilwana

muu

Yaaku

mws

Mwimbi-Muthambi

niq

Nandi

nle

Nyala

nyd

Olunyole

nyf

Kigiryama

oki

Okiek

omt

Omotik

orc

Orma

pan

Punjabi, Eastern

pkb

Kipfokomu

pko

Pökoot

rag

Lulogooli

rel

Rendille

saq

Samburu

sgc

Kipsigis

sgm

Somali

som

Sabaot

spy

Waata

ssn

Swahili

swh

Suba

sxb

Terik

tec

Ateso

teo

Sagalla

tga

Kitharaka

thk

Turkana

tuv

Tugen

tvs

Taveta

xki

Kenyan Sign Language

*These are three-letter codes for identifying languages

Adopted in 2007 under ISO 639-3.

 

Note that some of these languages have alternative names and dialects.[4] For instance, the Kiembu language is also known as Embu or Embo. Its dialects include Embu and Mbeere.

Another example is the Markweeta language, which is also known as Marakuet, Marakwet, or Markweta. Dialects of the Marakweeta language include Cherang’any. Endo, and Sambirir.

A significant share of Afro-Asiatic and Nilo-Saharan languages spoken in Kenya are endangered.

Many languages in Kenya are stable, meaning that even though formal institutions do not sustain the languages, they are widely spoken at home and in the community, with children learning and using the language.

This is true of languages in all the three language groups.

However, while most languages are stable, 33.3% of Afro-Asiatic languages and 21.4% of Nilo-Saharan languages are endangered – meaning it is no longer common for children to learn and use these languages.

None of the Niger-Congo languages in Kenya are endangered. However, the only extinct language in Kenya – Singa, is from this family.