Many Kenyans actually believe Kalenjin is a single tribe, but the community has a total of 9 sub-tribes.
According to the Kenya’s 2009 census, the Kalenjin has a population of 4,967,328 people, making it the third largest group in Kenya after the Kikuyu and the Luhya.
The Kalienjin sub-tribes include:
- Kipsigis
- Nandi
- Tugen
- Keiyo
- Terik
- Injems
- Marakwet
- Sabaot
- Pokot
What is interesting about this tribe is that the language spoken by a specific sub tribe is slightly different from another sub-tribe, but most words are slightly similar.
The Kalenjin community practices farming and pastoralism. They are also best known for their prowess in athletics, where they lead in major international athletics events.
Another common characteristic of Kalenjins is their habit of not settling in towns; they prefer staying at home or nearby home towns-which is why among dominant tribes, the Kalenjins are the least represented in major towns like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Kisii.
