KIKUYU
The largest group in the country (approximately 2 million) and the most successful at adapting culturally. They migrated to the fertile central highlands between the 16 th and 17 th centuries and developed as livestock and cereal farmers. SAMBURU
The Samburu are pastoralists, who live to the south and east of Lake Turkana. The social structure is essentially a gerontocracy - rule by elders - assuring the elders first choice among the young unmarried women. Men are usually about 30 by the time they marry, but the women marry at about 17 years of age. MASAI
Probably the most famous of all the Kenyan groups and related to the Samburu tribe. They are pastoralists, noted for drinking cattle blood mixed with milk, a mainstay of their diet. Their love of cattle is legendary and based on religious beliefs. They are a proud people, given to superior airs. Tall and slender, they carry themselves elegantly, dressed in brilliant red cloth with both men and women adorned with beadwork and metal jewellery. |