Somalis in Kenya become 6th largest tribe

The 2019 Kenyan population census results released yesterday show that the big five tribes – the Kikuyu, Luyha, Kalenjin, Luo and Kamba have maintained their dominating grip on the rest of the country. 

However, the Somali community long marginalized is gearing to join the small club of the big ethnicities. 

Somalis are the sixth-largest ethnic tribe in Kenya with a population of 2.7 million, the newly released second part of the 2019 population and housing report indicates.

Out of the three counties predominantly home to Somalis, Mandera has the highest population of 867,457 followed by Garissa at 841,353 while Wajir comes last with 781,263.

The report also shows that Somalis have the highest fertility rates with Mandera topping the list with the highest household population of 6.9. Wajir has an average household size of 6.1 while Garissa has the least average household size of 5.9.

The Kikuyu community has the highest population of 8.15 million followed by the Luhya , then Kalenjin Luo m) and Kamba.

 Politicians from the north eastern region have in the recent past rejected the numbers noting the population of Somalis had risen significantly in the last ten years.

The population distribution will be used to among others determine the allocation of resources under the national budget. Of concern among politicians is the possibility of a merger for constituencies whose population falls below the threshold.

According to new regulations, the population of a constituency should be a minimum of 170,000.

The 2019 population and Census results released on November 4 showed that the Kenyan population has grown to 47.6 million with women marginally outnumbering men.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said the numbers released will help guide the Government in planning purposes.