One official language, several recognised regional languages
Kenya is a multilingual country where most people speak at least three languages: their mother tongue, Swahili, the national language and the glue between communities, and English, the language of school, government and the economy. The 2010 Constitution made Swahili an official language on an equal footing with English and recognises Kenyan Sign Language.
Swahili (Kiswahili)
National and official language under the 2010 Constitution, spoken as a common language throughout the country and across much of East Africa.
English
Official language inherited from British colonisation; the language of Parliament, the courts, secondary and higher education and business.
Ethnic languages (Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo, Kamba…)
More than 60 Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic languages, spoken at home and locally; none is a majority language nationally.
Sheng
An urban slang born in Nairobi that mixes Swahili, English and local languages, now the language of urban youth and popular music.