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The Kamba or Akamba (sometimes called Wakamba) people are
Bantu peoples The Bantu peoples are an Indigenous peoples of Africa, indigenous ethnolinguistic grouping of approximately 400 distinct native Demographics of Africa, African List of ethnic groups of Africa, ethnic groups who speak Bantu languages. The language ...
ethnic group who predominantly live in
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
stretching from
Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...
to
Tsavo Tsavo is a region of Kenya located at the crossing of the Uganda Railway over the Tsavo River, close to where it meets the Athi-Galana-Sabaki River. Two national parks, Tsavo East and Tsavo West are located in the area. The meaning of the w ...
and northwards to
Embu Embu may refer to: Places ; in Brazil * Embu das Artes * Embu-Guaçu ; in Kenya * Embu, Kenya * Embu County Other

*Embu people of Kenya *Embu language, the Bantu language spoken by them {{Disamb, geo ...
, in the southern part of the former Eastern Province. This land is called ''Ukambani'' and constitutes
Makueni County Makueni County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Wote. It's the largest town in the county. Emali town which is an important market and stop over for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is another major tow ...
,
Kitui County Kitui County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui. Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of about 1.2 million people (as of 2024)Ny ...
and
Machakos County Machakos County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, which came into being as part of the devolved system of governance occasioned by the 2010 constitution of Kenya. The county's administrative headquarters are in Machakos Town, which is the l ...
. They also form the second largest ethnic group in 8 counties including Nairobi and Mombasa counties.


Origin

The Kamba are of
Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...
origin and they are originally believed to have originated from the
Congo Basin The Congo Basin () is the sedimentary basin of the Congo River. The Congo Basin is located in Central Africa, in a region known as west equatorial Africa. The Congo Basin region is sometimes known simply as the Congo. It contains some of the larg ...
.Joseph Bindloss, Tom Parkinson, Matt Fletcher, ''Lonely Planet Kenya'', (Lonely Planet: 2003), p.35. They are also known as the 'Akamba.' They are closely related in language and culture to the
Kikuyu Kikuyu or Gikuyu (Gĩkũyũ) mostly refers to an ethnic group in Kenya or its associated language. It may also refer to: *Kikuyu people, a majority ethnic group in Kenya * Kikuyu language, the language of Kikuyu people *Kikuyu, Kenya, a town in Cen ...
, the
Embu Embu may refer to: Places ; in Brazil * Embu das Artes * Embu-Guaçu ; in Kenya * Embu, Kenya * Embu County Other

*Embu people of Kenya *Embu language, the Bantu language spoken by them {{Disamb, geo ...
, the
Mbeere The Mbeere or Ambeere people are a Bantu ethnic group inhabiting the former Mbeere District in the now-defunct Eastern Province of Kenya. According to the 2019 Kenya National census, there are 195,250 Mbeere who inhabit an area of 2,093 k ...
and the
Meru Meru may refer to: Geography Kenya * Meru, Kenya, town in Meru County in the republic of Kenya * Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties that was created by the 2009 merger of 3 districts: ** Meru Central District ** Meru North District ** Meru S ...
of whom together they form the GEMA community, and to some extent relate closely to the Kambe and the
Giriama The Giriama (also called Giryama) are one of the nine ethnic groups that make up the Mijikenda (which literally translates to "nine towns"). The Mijikenda occupy the coastal strip extending from Lamu in the north to the Kenya/Tanzania border in ...
of the Kenyan coast. The Kambas are concentrated in the lowlands of southeast Kenya from the vicinity of
Mount Kenya Mount Kenya (Meru people, Meru: ''Kĩrĩmaara,'' Kikuyu people, Kikuyu: ''Kĩrĩnyaga'', Kamba language, Kamba: ''Ki nyaa'', Embu language, Embu: ''Kĩ nyaga'') is an extinct volcano in Kenya and the Highest mountain peaks of Africa, second-highe ...
to the coast. The first group of Kamba people settled in the present-day Mbooni Hills in the
Machakos District Machakos District was an administrative district in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital was Machakos. The district had an area of 20,402 km2. Machakos District, then known as Athi District, was created in 1895 as one of the original di ...
of Kenya. This was in the second half of the 17th century, before spreading to Machakos, Makueni and Kitui Districts. Some authorities suggest that they arrived in their present lowlands east of the Mount Kenya area of habitation from earlier settlements further to the north and east. Others argue that the Kamba, along with their closely related Eastern Bantu neighbours the Kikuyu, the Embu, the Mbeere and the Meru, moved into Kenya from points further south.Arnold Curtis, ''Kenya: a visitor's guide'', (Evans Brothers: 1985), p.7.


Distribution

Most of the Akamba people live in Kenya, and are concentrated in the lower eastern counties of
Machakos Machakos, also called Masaku, is a town in Machakos County, Kenya. Serving as the capital of the county, its urban population was 63,767 as of 2019. History Machakos was established in 1887 by Sakshi Shah, ten years before Nairobi. Machakos ...
,
Kitui Kitui is a town and capital of Kitui County in Kenya, 185 kilometres east of Nairobi and 105 kilometres east of Machakos. it covers an area approximately 30,496.4 km squares and lies between latitudes 0°10 South and 3°0 South and long ...
, and Makueni. According to the national census of 2019, there were 4,663,910 Akamba people in Kenya, being the fifth-most populous tribe in the country. Machakos is the most populous of the three Ukambani counties, with 1,421,932 residents. This is followed by Kitui (1,136,187 residents) then Makueni (987,653 residents). They make up the second largest ethnic demographics in each of the urban city - counties of
Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...
and
Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...
as well as Taita–Taveta,
Kiambu Kiambu is a town in Kiambu County, Kenya. It is from the national capital, Nairobi. It is the capital of Kiambu County, which bounds the northern border of Nairobi. Other proximate towns are Ruiru, Gatundu, Limuru and Kabete. Administr ...
,
Muranga Murang'a is a town in Murang'a County of Kenya. It is the administrative headquarters of Murang'a County and is mainly inhabited by the Kikuyu community. Before the Kenyan independence in 1963, the town was known as Fort Hall. Fort Hall was or ...
, Kirinyaga,
Kwale Kwale is a small town in Mombasa and the capital of Kwale County, Kenya. It is located at ; 30 km southwest of Mombasa and 15 km inland. The town had an urban population of 10,063 (2019 census). It is next to the Shimba Hills Nation ...
and
Kilifi Kilifi is a town on the coast of Kenya, northeast of Mombasa by road. The town lies on the Kilifi Creek and sits on the estuary of the Goshi River. Kilifi is the capital of Kilifi County and had a population of 122,899 during the 2009 census. ...
counties. They also form the third largest ethnic group in
Embu Embu may refer to: Places ; in Brazil * Embu das Artes * Embu-Guaçu ; in Kenya * Embu, Kenya * Embu County Other

*Embu people of Kenya *Embu language, the Bantu language spoken by them {{Disamb, geo ...
,
Garissa Garissa ( Arabic: قارسا) is the capital of Garissa County, Kenya. It is situated in the former North Eastern Province. Geography The Tana River, which rises in Mount Kenya east of Nyeri, flows through Garissa. The Bour-Algi Giraffe ...
,
Meru Meru may refer to: Geography Kenya * Meru, Kenya, town in Meru County in the republic of Kenya * Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties that was created by the 2009 merger of 3 districts: ** Meru Central District ** Meru North District ** Meru S ...
and
Kajiado Kajiado is a town in Kajiado County, Kenya. The town is located south of Nairobi, along the Nairobi – Arusha highway ( A104 road). Kajiado has an urban population of 24,678 (2019 census). Local people are predominantly of the Maasai tribe. ...
counties. In Embu county the Kamba live in
Mbeere South Mbeere South is an electoral constituency in Embu County, Kenya. It used to be known as Gachoka Constituency, one of two constituencies of the former Mbeere District Mbeere District was a former administrative district in the Eastern Province o ...
region and in Taita–Taveta County they are mainly concentrated in the Taveta region. They share a border with the Maasai people and are literally separated by the Kenya-Uganda railway from Athi-River to
Kibwezi Kibwezi is a town in Makueni County, Kenya. Kibwezi town is the headquarters of Kibwezi division, one of 15 administrative divisions in Makueni County. The division has a population of 80,236, of whom 4,695 are classified urban. The division has ...
. Up until late 20th Century the Maasai and the Akamba communities were involved in persistent cattle-rustling and pasture conflicts especially on the pasture-rich Konza plains. This attracted the interest of colonial government who created Cooperative Society and the later the establishment of Konza, Potha and Malili Ranches where the proposed
Konza Technology City Konza Technopolis, also known as Silicon Savannah, is a large technology hub being built 64 km (39 mi) south of Nairobi. Its location spreads across the three counties of Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado. It is a gazetted Special Economic Zone. K ...
sits.


Kamba people outside of Kenya

Apart from Kenya, Kamba people can also be found in Uganda, Tanzania and in
Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...
. The population of Akamba in Uganda is about 8,280, 110,000 in Tanzania and about 10,000 in Paraguay. The Kamba people in the
South American South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...
country of Paraguay form two groups: Kamba Cuá and Kamba Kokue with the former being the most famous. They arrived in Paraguay as members of a regiment of 250 spearmen ('lanceros de Artigas'), men and women, who accompanied General
Jose Gervasio Artigas Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. Given name Mishnaic and Talmudic periods * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean * Jose ben Halafta ...
, in his exile in Paraguay in 1820. The Kamba Cuá are famous for their African traditional ballet that is described as the "central cultural identity of the Afro-Paraguayan community".


Language

The Kamba speak the
Kamba language Kamba, or Kikamba, is a Bantu language spoken by millions of Kamba people, primarily in Kenya, as well as thousands of people in Uganda, Tanzania, and elsewhere. In Kenya, Kamba is generally spoken in four counties: Machakos, Kitui, Makueni ...
(also known as Kikamba) as a
mother tongue A first language (L1), native language, native tongue, or mother tongue is the first language a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tongue'' refers ...
. It belongs to the
Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...
branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Kikamba has no letters c, f, j, r, x, q and p in its alphabet. The Swahili language reveals closer ties to the Akamba mother tongue, this being due to the various interactions of the Akamba people with Arab traders for centuries.


Economy

Like many Bantus, the Akamba were originally hunters and gatherers but later became long distance traders because of their knowledge of the expansive area they inhabited. They also had good relations with neighbouring communities as well as excellent communication skills. They would go on to later adopt
subsistence farming Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow crops on smallholdings to meet the needs of themselves and their families. Subsistence agriculturalists target farm output for survival and for mostly local requirements. Planting decisions occ ...
and pastoralism due to the availability of the new lands that they came to occupy. Today, the Akamba are often found engaged in different professions: some are agriculturalists, others are traders, while others have taken up formal jobs. The Kamba also practiced
Barter In trade, barter (derived from ''bareter'') is a system of exchange (economics), exchange in which participants in a financial transaction, transaction directly exchange good (economics), goods or service (economics), services for other goods ...
trade with the Kikuyu, Maasai,
Meru Meru may refer to: Geography Kenya * Meru, Kenya, town in Meru County in the republic of Kenya * Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties that was created by the 2009 merger of 3 districts: ** Meru Central District ** Meru North District ** Meru S ...
and
Embu Embu may refer to: Places ; in Brazil * Embu das Artes * Embu-Guaçu ; in Kenya * Embu, Kenya * Embu County Other

*Embu people of Kenya *Embu language, the Bantu language spoken by them {{Disamb, geo ...
people in the interior and the
Mijikenda Mijikenda may refer to: *Mijikenda peoples *Mijikenda language Mijikenda is a Bantu dialect cluster spoken along the coast of East Africa, mostly in Kenya, where there are 2.6 million speakers (2019 census) but also in Tanzania Tanzania, o ...
and
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
people of the coast. Over time, the Akamba extended their commercial activity and wielded economic control across the central part of the land that was later to be known as Kenya (from the Kikamba, 'Ki'nyaa', meaning 'the Ostrich Country.' This was derived from the reference they made to Mount Kenya and its snow cap similar to the male Ostrich), from the Indian Ocean in the east to
Lake Victoria Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. With a surface area of approximately , Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake by area, the world's largest tropics, tropical lake, and the world's second-largest fresh water lake by surface are ...
in the west, and all the way up to
Lake Turkana Lake Turkana () is a saline lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley, in northern Kenya, with its far northern end crossing into Ethiopia. It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. By volume it is the world ...
on the northern frontier. The Akamba traded in locally produced goods such as sugar cane wine,
ivory Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and Tooth, teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mamm ...
, brass amulets, tools and weapons, millet, and cattle. The food obtained from trading helped offset shortages caused by droughts and
famines A famine is a widespread scarcity of food caused by several possible factors, including, but not limited to war, natural disasters, crop failure, widespread poverty, an economic catastrophe or government policies. This phenomenon is usuall ...
experienced in their Kamba land. They also traded in medicinal products known as 'Miti' (literally: plants), made from various parts of the numerous medicinal plants found on the Southeast African plains. Maingi Ndonye Mbithi, commonly referred by his peers and locals as Kanyi, from Kimutwa village in Machakos was known for his concoction of herbs mixed with locally fermented brew (kaluvu) with the ability to heal cancerous boils (Mi'imu). The Akamba are still known for their fine work in wood carving,
basketry Basket weaving (also basketry or basket making) is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as baskets, mats, mesh bags or even furniture. Craftspeople and artists specialized in making baskets ...
and
pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...
and the products . Their artistic inclination is evidenced in the sculpture work that is on display in many craft shops and galleries in the major cities and towns of Kenya. In the mid-eighteenth century, a large number of Akamba pastoral groups moved eastwards from the Tsavo and Kibwezi areas to the coast. This migration was the result of extensive drought and lack of pasture for their cattle. They settled in the
Mariakani Mariakani is a town in Kenya lying on the boundary of Kaloleni and Kinango subcounties (formerly Kilifi and Kwale respectively) in the former Coast Province of Kenya, 36 kilometres northwest of the port city of Mombasa. Origin The origin of the ...
, Kinango,
Kwale Kwale is a small town in Mombasa and the capital of Kwale County, Kenya. It is located at ; 30 km southwest of Mombasa and 15 km inland. The town had an urban population of 10,063 (2019 census). It is next to the Shimba Hills Nation ...
, Mombasa West (Changamwe and Chaani) and Mombasa North (Kisauni) areas of the coast of Kenya, creating the beginnings of urban settlement. They are still found in large numbers in these towns, and have been absorbed into the cultural, economic and political life of the modern-day
Coast Province The Coast Province () was one of Kenya's eight provinces prior to 2010. It covered the entire country's coastline on the Indian Ocean. Its capital city was Mombasa. It was inhabited by the Mijikenda and Swahili peoples, among others. The provin ...
. Several notable businessmen and women, politicians, as well as professional men and women are direct descendants of these itinerant pastoralists.


History


Colonialism and the 19th century

In the latter part of the 19th century the
Arabs Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of yea ...
took over the coastal trade from the Akamba, who then acted as middlemen between the Arab and
Swahili Swahili may refer to: * Swahili language, a Bantu language officially used in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda and widely spoken in the African Great Lakes. * Swahili people, an ethnic group in East Africa. * Swahili culture, the culture of the Swahili p ...
traders and the tribes further upcountry. Their trade and travel made them ideal guides for the caravans gathering elephant tusks, precious stones and some slaves for the Middle Eastern,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
n, and
Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...
markets. Early European explorers also used them as guides in their expeditions to explore Southeast Africa, due to their wide knowledge of the land and neutral standing with many of the other societies they traded with. During the colonial era, British colonial officials considered the Kamba to be the premier martial race and sharp-shooters of Africa. The Kamba themselves appeared to embrace this label by enlisting in the colonial army in large numbers. After confidently describing the Kamba serving in the King's African Rifles (the KAR, Britain's East African colonial army) as loyal "soldiers of the Queen" during the
Mau Mau Emergency The Mau Mau rebellion (1952–1960), also known as the Mau Mau uprising, Mau Mau revolt, or Kenya Emergency, was a war in the British Kenya Colony (1920–1963) between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as the Mau Mau, and the ...
, a press release by the
East Africa Command East Africa Command was a Command of the British Army. Until 1947 it was under the direct control of the Army Council and thereafter it became the responsibility of Middle East Command. It was disbanded on 11 December 1963, the day before Kenya bec ...
went on to characterize the Kamba as a "fighting race." These sentiments were echoed by other colonial observers in the early 1950s who deemed the Kamba a hardy, virile, courageous, and "mechanically-minded tribe." Considered by many officers to be the "best oldierlymaterial in Africa," the Kamba supplied the KAR with askaris (soldiers) at a rate that was three to four times their percentage of the overall Kenyan population.' The Kamba people successfully resisted an attempt by the British colonialists to seize their livestock in an obnoxious livestock control legislation in 1938. They peacefully fought the British until the law was repealed.Among the Akamba people, lack of rain is considered an event requiring ritual intervention. As a result, they perform a ritual rain making dance called Kilumi. It is a healing rite designed to restore environmental balance through spiritual blessings, movement, offering, and prayers. According to Akamba, Kilumi has been present since the very beginning of Kamba existence. This ritual emphasizes symbolic dance movements as a key force in achieving the goal of the ceremony. The heart of the dance ritual is its spiritual essence; in fact, it is the spiritual aspect that distinguishes the dances of Africans and their descendants worldwide. For this reason, it is important to understand the nature of rituals. Dance rituals take participants on a journey; they are designed to foster a transformation moving them to different states, with the ultimate goal of invoking spiritual intervention to resolve the problem at hand. Akamba resistance to colonial "pacification" was mostly non-violent in nature. Some of the best known Akamba resistance leaders to colonialism were:
Syokimau Syokimau is a residential area in the west of Machakos County, Kenya, just south of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The place is named after the legendary Akamba medicine woman Prophetess Syokimau. Syokimau Prophesied the comi ...
, Syotune wa Kathukye, Muindi Mbingu, and later
Paul Ngei The Honourable Paul Joseph Ngei (18 October 1923 – 15 August 2004) was a Kenyan politician who was imprisoned for his role in the anti-colonial movement, but who went on to hold several government ministerial positions after Kenya became inde ...
, JD Kali, and Malu of Kilungu. Ngei and Kali were imprisoned by the colonial government for their anti-colonial protests. Syotune wa Kathukye led a peaceful protest to recover cattle confiscated by the British colonial government during one of their raiding expeditions on the local populations. Muindi Mbingu was arrested for leading another protest march to recover stolen land and cattle around the Mua Hills in Masaku district, which the British settlers eventually appropriated for themselves. JD Kali, along with Paul Ngei, joined the Mau Mau movement to recover Kenya for the Kenyan people. This movement took place between 1952 and 1960. He was imprisoned in
Kapenguria Kapenguria is a town in Kenya. It is the capital and largest urban center of West Pokot County. The town lies north east of Kitale on the A1 road along Kitale-Lodwar road in north Western Kenya. Kapenguria forms a municipality with a populatio ...
during the fighting between the then government and the freedom fighters.


Culture and beliefs

Their origin myth is as follows: "In the beginning, Mulungu created a man and a woman. This was the couple from heaven and he proceeded to place them on a rock at Nzaui where their foot prints, including those of their livestock can be seen to this day. Mulungu then caused a great rainfall. From the many anthills around, a man and a woman came out. These were the initiators of the 'spirits clan'- the Aimo. It so happened that the couple from heaven had only sons while the couple from the anthill had only daughters. Naturally, the couple from heaven paid dowry for the daughters of the couple from the anthill. The family and their cattle greatly increased in numbers. With this prosperity, they forgot to give thanks to their creator. Mulungu punished them with a great famine. This led to dispersal as the family scattered in search of food. Some became the
Kikuyu Kikuyu or Gikuyu (Gĩkũyũ) mostly refers to an ethnic group in Kenya or its associated language. It may also refer to: *Kikuyu people, a majority ethnic group in Kenya * Kikuyu language, the language of Kikuyu people *Kikuyu, Kenya, a town in Cen ...
, others the
Meru Meru may refer to: Geography Kenya * Meru, Kenya, town in Meru County in the republic of Kenya * Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties that was created by the 2009 merger of 3 districts: ** Meru Central District ** Meru North District ** Meru S ...
while some remained as the original people, the Akamba." The Akamba are not specific about the number of children that each couple had initially borne. The Akamba believe in a monotheistic, invisible and transcendental God,
Ngai Ngai (also called Múrungu or Enkai) is the monolithic Supreme God in the spirituality of the Kikuyu (or Gikuyu) and the closely related Embu, Meru and Kamba groups of Kenya, and the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania. Ngai is the creator of the uni ...
or Mulungu, who lives in the sky (''yayayani'' or ''ituni''). Another venerable name for God is Asa, or the Father. He is also known as Ngai Mumbi (God the Creator) na Mwatuangi (God the finger-divider). He is perceived as the omnipotent creator of life on earth and as a merciful, if distant, entity. The traditional Akamba perceive the spirits of their departed ones, the ''Aimu'' or ''Maimu'', as the intercessors between themselves and Ngai Mulungu. They are remembered in family rituals and offerings / libations at individual altars.


The Akamba family

In Akamba culture, the family known as (Musyi) plays a central role in the community. The Akamba extended family or clan is called ''mbai''. The man, who is the head of the family, is usually engaged in an economic activity popular among the community like trading, hunting, cattle-herding or farming. He is known as ''Nau'', ''Tata'', or ''Asa''. The woman, regardless of her husband's occupation, works on her plot of land, which she is given upon joining her husband's household. She supplies the bulk of the food consumed by her family. She grows maize, millet, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, beans, pigeon peas, greens, arrow root, cassava, and yam in cooler regions like Kangundo, Kilungu and Mbooni. It is the mother's role to bring up the children. Even children that have grown up into adults are expected to never contradict the mother's wishes. The mother is known as ''Mwaitu'' ('our One'). Very little distinction is made between one's children and nieces and nephews. They address their maternal uncle as ''inaimiwa'' and maternal aunts as ''mwendya'' and for their paternal uncle and aunt as ''mwendw'au''. They address their paternal cousins as ''wa-asa'' or ''wa'ia'' (for men is ''mwanaasa'' or ''mwanaa'ia'', and for women is ''mwiitu wa'asa'' or ''mwiitu wa'ia''), and the maternal cousins (mother's side) as ''wa mwendya'' (for men ''mwanaa mwendya''; for women ''mwiitu wa mwendya''). Children often move from one household to another with ease, and are made to feel at home by their aunts and uncles who, while in charge of their nephews/nieces, are their de facto parents. Grandparents known as (''Susu'' or (grandmother), ''Umau'' or ''Umaa'' (grandfather)) help with the less strenuous chores around the home, such as rope-making, tanning leather, carving of beehives, three-legged wooden stools, cleaning and decorating calabashes, making bows and arrows, etc. Older women continue to work the land, as this is seen as a source of independence and economic security. They also carry out trade in the local markets, though not exclusively. In the modern Akamba family, the women, especially in the urban regions, practice professions such as teaching, law, medicine, nursing, secretarial work, management, tailoring and other duties in accordance with Kenya's socioeconomic evolution. The Kamba clans are: Anzauni, Aombe, Akitondo, Amwei (Angwina), Atwii, Amumui, Aethanga, Atangwa, Amutei, Aewani, Akitutu, Ambua, Aiini, Asii, Akiimi, Amũũti, Amũũnda.


Naming and Kamba names

Naming of children is an important aspect of the Akamba people. In most but not all cases, the first four children, two boys and two girls, are named after the grandparents on both sides of the family. The first boy is named after the paternal grandfather and the second after the maternal grandfather. Girls are similarly named. Because of the respect that the Kamba people observe between the varied relationships, there are people with whom they cannot speak on "first name" terms. The father and the mother in-law on the husband's side, for instance, can never address their daughter in-law by her first name. Neither can she address them by their first names. Yet she has to name her children after them. To solve this problem, a system of naming is adopted that gave names which were descriptive of the quality or career of the grandparents. Therefore, when a woman is married into a family, she is given a family name (some sort of baptismal name), such as "Syomunyithya/ng'a Mutunga", that is, "she who is to be the mother of Munyithya/Mutunga". Her first son is to be called by this name. This name Munyithya was descriptive of certain qualities of the paternal grandfather or of his career. Thus, when she is calling her son, she would indeed be calling her father in-law, but at the same time strictly observing the cultural law of never addressing her in-laws by their first names. After these four children are named, whose names were more or less predetermined, other children could be given any other names, sometimes after other relatives and / or family friends on both sides of the family. Occasionally, children were given names that were descriptive of the circumstances under which they were born: *"Nduku/Katuku" (girl) and "Mutuku/Kituku" (boy) meaning born at night, *"Kiloko" (girl) and "Kioko" (boy) born in the morning, *"Mumbua/Syombua/ Mbula" (girl) and "Wambua/Mbua" (boy) for the time of rain, *"Wayua" (girl) for the time of famine, *"Makau" (boy) for the time of war, *"Musyoka/Kasyuko/Musyoki" (boy) and "Kasyoka/Kasyoki" (girl) as a re-incarnation of a dead family member, *"Mutua/Mutui" (boy) and "Mutuo/Mwikali" (girl) as indicative of the long duration the parents had waited for this child, or a lengthy period of gestation. *"Munyao" (boy) for the time of famine *"Mueni/Waeni" (girl) for the time of visitors *"Maundu" (boy) for the time of multiple activities/things *"Muthami/Muthama" (boy) for the time of migration Children were also given affectionate names as expressions of what their parents wished them to be in life. Such names would be like *"Mutongoi" (leader) *"Musili" (judge) *"Muthui" (the rich one) *"Ngumbau" (hero, the brave one) *"Kitonga" (wealthy one) Of course, some of these names could be simply expressive of the qualities displayed by the man or woman after whom they were named. Very rarely, a boy may be given the name "Musumbi" (meaning "king"). I say very rarely because the Kamba people did not speak much in terms of royalty; they did not have a definite monarchical system. They were ruled by a council of elders called ''king'ole''. There is a prophecy of a man, who traces his ancestry to where the sun sets (west) (in the present day county of Kitui) who will bear this name. A girl could be called "Mumbe" meaning beautiful one or "Mwende" (beloved); Wild animal names like ''Nzoka'' (snake), ''Mbiti'' (hyena), ''Mbuku'' (hare), ''Munyambu'' (lion), or ''Mbiwa'' (fox); or domesticated animal names like ''Ngiti'' (dog), ''Ng'ombe'' (cow), or ''Nguku'' (chicken), were given to children born of mothers who started by giving stillbirths. This was done to wish away the bad omen and allow the new child to survive. Sometimes the names were used to preserve the good names for later children. There was a belief that a woman's later children had a better chance of surviving than her first ones.


Kikamba music

The Akamba people's love of music and dance is evidenced in their spectacular performances at many events in their daily lives or on occasions of regional and national importance. In their dances they display agility and athletic skills as they perform acrobatics and body movements. The Akamba dance techniques and style resemble those of the Batutsi of Rwanda-Burundi and the
Aembu The Embu or Aembu (sometimes called Waembu) are a Bantu people indigenous to Embu county . The region is situated on the southern slopes of Mount Kenya in the former Eastern province. To the West, Embu neighbours the Kikuyu, The Meru people ...
of Kenya. The earliest, most famous and respected traditional Kamba soloist who can be documented was Mailu Mboo and came from "Kwa Vara" Now
mwingi Mwingi is a town in Kitui County in the Eastern Region of the Republic of Kenya. It had an urban population of 15,970 as per the 2009 census. The town is located along the A3 Road between Nairobi and Garissa, north of its county capital Kitui, a ...
. The following are some of the varieties of traditional dance styles of the Akamba community: * ''Mwali'' (plural ''Myali''), a dance accompanying a song, the latter which is usually made to criticise anti-social behaviour. * ''Kilumi'' and ''Ngoma'', religious dances, performed at healing and rain-making ceremonies; * ''Mwilu'' is a circumcision dance; * ''Mbalya'' or ''Ngutha'' is a dance for young people who meet to entertain themselves after the day's chores are done. * ''Kamandiko'', or the modern disco usually held after a wedding party. Dances are usually accompanied by songs composed for the occasion (marriage, birth, nationally important occasion), and reflect the traditional structure of the Kikamba song, sung on a pentatonic scale. The singing is lively and tuneful. Songs are composed satirising deviant behaviour, anti-social activity, etc. The Akamba have famous work songs, such as ''Ngulu Mwelela'', sung while work, such as digging, is going on. Herdsmen and boys have different songs, as do young people and old. During the Mbalya dances the dance leader will compose love songs and satirical numbers, to tease and entertain his/her dancers.


Clothing and costumery

The Akamba of the modern times, like most people in Kenya, dress rather conventionally in western / European clothing. The men wear trousers and shirts. Young boys will, as a rule, wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts, usually in cotton, or tee-shirts. Traditionally, Akamba men wore leather short kilts made from animal skins or tree bark. They wore copious jewellery, mainly of copper and brass. It consisted of neck-chains, bracelets, and anklets. The women in modern Akamba society also dress in the European fashion, taking their pick from dresses, skirts, trousers, jeans and shorts, made from the wide range of fabrics available in Kenya. Primarily, however, skirts are the customary and respectable mode of dress. In the past, the women were attired in knee-length leather or bark skirts, embellished with bead work. They wore necklaces made of beads, these obtained from the Swahili and Arab traders. They shaved their heads clean, and wore a head band intensively decorated with beads. The various kilumi or dance groups wore similar colours and patterns on their bead work to distinguish themselves from other groups. Traditionally, both men and women wore leather sandals especially when they ventured out of their neighbourhoods to go to the market or on visits. While at home or working in their fields, however, they remained barefoot. Schoolchildren, male and female, shave their heads to maintain the spirit of uniformity and equality. Currently the most popular Kamba artist include; Ken Wamaria, Kativui, Kitunguu, Katombi, Maima, Vuusya Ungu etc. Ken Wamaria is rated as the top artist in Ukambani and the richest Kenyan artist (Kioko, 2012).


Media and news channels

Vernacular radio stations in Kenya where Kamba is the primary language spoken are as follows: * Athiani FM * County FM * Mang'elete FM * Mbaitu FM * Musyi FM * Syokimau FM * Thokoa FM * Mwatu FM * Wikwatyo FM Kyeni TV is a TV channel which broadcasts primarily in the Kamba language. Mauvoo News is an online news website which covers current affairs and local news touching on Kenya's three Akamba people Counties of Makueni,
Kitui Kitui is a town and capital of Kitui County in Kenya, 185 kilometres east of Nairobi and 105 kilometres east of Machakos. it covers an area approximately 30,496.4 km squares and lies between latitudes 0°10 South and 3°0 South and long ...
and Machakos in the English language.


Notable Akamba and people of Akamba descent


Academics, activism and authorship

*
Crispus Makau Kiamba Prof Crispus Makau Kiamba (born 2 March 1954) is currently a faculty member in the Department of Real Estate and Construction Management, School of the Built Environment, College of Architecture and Engineering at the University of Nairobi. He was t ...
- 5th Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Nairobi The University of Nairobi (uonbi or UoN; ) is a college, collegiate research university based in Nairobi and is the largest List of universities and colleges in Kenya, university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution dat ...
*
Kamoya Kimeu Kamoya Kimeu (1938 – 20 July 2022) was a Kenyan paleontologist and curator, whose contributions to the field of paleoanthropology were recognised with the National Geographic Society's LaGorce Medal and with an honorary doctorate of science deg ...
- Kenyan paleontologist and curator *
Teresia Mbaika Malokwe Teresia Mbaika Malokwe (née Teresia Mbaika), is currently the nominated principal secretary of State Department for aviation & aerospace development under ministry of roads and transport . .Teresia is also an environmentalist and healt ...
- Kenyan environmentalist and health economist *
Peter Mbithi Peter Mulwa Felix Mbithi (born 4 July 1956) is a Kenyan veterinary surgeon, academic and former academic administrator, who served as the 7th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya's oldest public university, from January 20 ...
- 7th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi *
David Mulwa David Kakuta Mulwa (born 9 April 1945) is a Kenyan writer, academic, theatre director and actor. He is currently a theatre arts lecturer in Kenyatta University's School of Visual and Performing Arts. Biography Born in Mukaa, Machakos County, ...
- Kenyan writer, academic, theatre director and actor *
Rose Mutiso Rose M. Mutiso is a Kenyan activist and materials scientist. She is co-founder and CEO of The Mawazo Institute. She is the research director of the Energy for Growth Hub. She was short listed for the 2020 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Aw ...
- Kenyan activist and materials scientist *
Makau Mutua Makau W. Mutua (born 1958) is a Kenyan-American professor at the SUNY Buffalo School of Law and was its dean from 2008 to 2014. He teaches international human rights, international business transactions and international law. He is vice preside ...
- Kenyan born professor of law and the
dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean * Dean Sw ...
of the
University at Buffalo Law School The University at Buffalo School of Law (also known as State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, or SUNY Buffalo Law School) is the law school of the University at Buffalo. Founded in 1887, and affiliated with Niagara University until 1 ...
and a member of the
Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an American think tank focused on Foreign policy of the United States, U.S. foreign policy and international relations. Founded in 1921, it is an independent and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organi ...
* Nduku Kilonzo - advisor in Gender and Rights Advocacy Panel to
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
and Commissioner with the Lancet Commission for Health in Sub-Saharan Africa * Onesmus Kimweli Mutungi - first Kenyan to get a doctorate degree in law * Jane Catherine Ngila - acting Executive Director of the
African Academy of Sciences The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is a non-aligned, non-political, not-for-profit, pan-African learned society formed in 1985. The AAS elects fellows ( FAAS) and affiliates. The AAS also awards the Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery a ...
and member of the
Academy of Science of South Africa The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is the national science academy in South Africa. It was started in 1996, and encompasses all fields of scientific work. Its legal foundation is the ''Academy of Science of South Africa Act'', Act ...
, winner of L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award 2021 * Musili Wambua - Associate Dean of the
University of Nairobi The University of Nairobi (uonbi or UoN; ) is a college, collegiate research university based in Nairobi and is the largest List of universities and colleges in Kenya, university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution dat ...
Faculty of Law and Chancellor of University of Embu


Artists, athletes and media

*
Ken wa Maria Ken or KEN may refer to: Entertainment * ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer * ''Ken'' (film), a 1965 Japanese film * ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine * Ken Masters, a main character in th ...
- Kenyan musician *
Dennis Mambo Dennis or Denis is a first or last name from the Greco-Roman name Dionysius, via one of the Christian saints named Dionysius. The name came from Dionysus, the Greek god of ecstatic states, particularly those produced by wine, which is sometime ...
- Kenyan Economist *
Patrick Ivuti Patrick Mukutu Ivuti (born June 30, 1978) is a Kenyan long distance athlete, who currently resides in Nairobi, Kenya. A two-time silver medallist at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, he made his marathon debut in 2005 and had his first ...
- Kenyan long-distance athlete and 2007
Chicago Marathon The Chicago Marathon is a road marathon held in October in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the seven World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also a World Athletics Label Road Race. The Chicago Marathon is one of the largest races by number of fini ...
winner, 2009 Prague Marathon winner * Kakai Kilonzo (1954 - 24 February 1987) - benga musician of Les Kilimambogo Brothers * Francis Kimanzi - former Harambee Stars head coach *
Andrew Kisilu Andrew Ngati Kisilu is a Kenyan winger currently in the ranks of Kenyan Premier League side Nairobi City Stars. Career Kisilu formerly turned out for Sunrise Football Academy, an establishment he served for a few years from 2014. While at the ...
- Footballer for
Nairobi City Stars Nairobi City Stars is a professional football club based in Nairobi, Kenya that currently competes in the first tier Kenyan Premier League. History The club was founded in 2003 as World Hope Football Club after a majority of players followed hea ...
*
Jackson Kivuva Jackson Mumbwa Kivuva (born August 11, 1989) is a runner from Kenya who specialises in 800 metres. His surname is sometimes misspelled as "Kivuna". Background Kivuva started running in 2002 while at Syanamu Primary school. Later he went to Kinyui ...
- Kenyan middle-distance runner * Betty Kyallo - Kenyan media personality *
Mbithi Masya Mbithi Masya is a Kenyan filmmaker, artist and writer born in Nairobi, Kenya on 13 December 1985. He is part of the experimental collective Just a Band (2008–2016, 2022-present) that became one of Kenya's most famous bands in the 2010s. He is cr ...
- Kenyan film director *
Benson Masya Benson Masya (May 14, 1970 – September 24, 2003) was a Kenyan long-distance runner and marathon specialist, who competed in the late 1980s and 1990s. He participated at the inaugural IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1992 and finished in ...
(14 May 1970 – 24 September 2003) -
long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...
and
marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There ...
serial winners * Alex Mativo - Kenyan fashion designer *
Leonard Mbotela Leonard Mambo Mbotela (29 May 1940 – 7 February 2025) was a Kenyan journalist. His career spanned more than five decades (58 years) . Early life Leornard Mambo Mbotela was born at Lady Grigg Hospital, Mombasa on 29 May 1940. He was the first ...
- Kenyan journalist * Jimmy Muindi - Kenyan marathoner and 2005
Rotterdam Marathon The Rotterdam Marathon, currently branded NN Rotterdam Marathon, is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April every year since the third edition in 1984 and attracts many top athletes. ...
winner * Jacob "Ghost" Mulee - former
Harambee Stars The Kenya national football team, colloquially known as the Harambee Stars, represents Kenya in association football. It is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation, the governing body of football in Kenya, and competes as a member of the ...
head coach *
Kalekye Mumo Kalekye Mumo is a Kenyan media personality and singer. Career Mumo was born in 1976. She worked for the Turkish embassy and later at HomeBoyz. She then moved to sound production as a sound engineer for Madeva TV. She was hired by 98.4 Capit ...
- Kenyan media personality *
Alexander Mutiso Alexander Mutiso Munyao (born 10 September 1996) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in road running. His personal best of 57:59 in the half marathon set at the 2020 Valencia Half Marathon is the fourth fastest time ever. He also w ...
- winner of the 2024
London Marathon The London Marathon (also known as the TCS London Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is an annual marathon held in London, England. Founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981, it is typically held in April, although it moved to Oct ...
* Joey Muthengi - Kenyan media personality and actress * David Mutinda Mutua - Kenyan middle-distance runner, 2010 Moncton 800 metres World Junior Champion *
Julius Mutinda Julius Mutinda (born 14 September 1956) is a Kenyan field hockey player. He competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where the Kenyan team placed ninth. He also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul Seoul, officially ...
- Kenyan field hockey player *
Joseph Mutua Joseph Mwengi Mutua (born 10 December 1978 in Machakos, Eastern Province) is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 800 metres. His personal best time is 1:43.33 minutes, achieved in August 2002 in Zürich. He holds the African indoor record in ...
- Kenyan middle-distance runner, former African Indoor 800 metres record holder *
Kasiva Mutua Kasiva Mutua is a Kenyan percussionist. According to ''Daily News Egypt'', she is one of the top drummers in Kenya. Mutua is currently based in Nairobi. Biography Mutua learned to play traditional drums from her grandmother at the age of six. I ...
- Kenyan percussionist *
Henrie Mutuku Henrie Mutuku (; born 28 April 1978) is a Kenyan Gospel singer. Early life Mutuku was born in Nairobi in 1978, the firstborn with three brothers to Mr. and Mrs. Mutuku. She grew up in the Eastlands, a densely populated area in Nairobi inhabit ...
- Kenyan
gospel singer Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music vary according to culture and social context. Gospel music is compos ...
*
Patrick Makau Musyoki Patrick Makau Musyoki (born 2 March 1985) is a runner from Kenya. He is a former world record holder in the marathon—His time of 2:03:38, run at the 2011 Berlin Marathon, was the world record for two years, until it was beaten by Wilson Kipsan ...
- former world record holder in marathon *
Michael Musyoki Michael Musyoki (born May 28, 1956) is a retired long-distance runner from Kenya. He won the bronze medal in 10,000 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Running career Collegiate Musyoki was recruited by University of Texas at El Paso, a school ...
- Kenyan long-distance athlete and
1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the ...
10,000 metres bronze medallist *
John Nzau Mwangangi John Nzau Mwangangi (born 1 November 1990) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes over distances ranging from 5000 metres to the half marathon. He was the gold medallist at the 2011 African Cross Country Championships. He has won a number ...
- Kenyan long distance runner and the gold medalist at the 2011
African Cross Country Championships The African Cross Country Championships is a regional cross country running competition for athletes from Africa. History The competition had a one off edition in 1985 in Nairobi, Kenya, and the medallists were mostly from the host nation.
* Nick Mwendwa - former president of
Football Kenya Federation The Football Kenya Federation (abbreviated as Football Kenya or FKF) is the governing body of football in Kenya. The FKF organizes the Kenyan Premier League, the Kenyan Women's Premier League, FKF Division One, FKF Women Division One and Ken ...
* Asha Mwilu - prominent Kenyan journalist and overall winner of the 2016 CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the year * Daniel Ndambuki - Kenyan comedian who hosts the comedy television show ''
Churchill Show ''Churchill Show'' (formerly ''Churchill Live'') is a Kenyan comedy show hosted by comedian Daniel "Churchill" Ndambuki, that premiered on 2007 on the network NTV. It is recorded live at Carnivore grounds in Nairobi. Churchill Raw A 30-minute ...
'' *
Cosmas Ndeti Cosmas Ndeti (born 24 November 1971) is a three-time winner of the Boston Marathon. He was the winner of the 1993, 1994, and 1995 races. He set the course record in 1994 with a time of 2:07:15, which was also the best marathon performance in 199 ...
(b. 24 November 1971) - three-time winner of the Boston Marathon; set the course record in 1994 with a time of 2:07:15, that record stood for 12 years *
Mulinge Ndeto James Mulinge Munandi Ndeto (born 25 January 1981), commonly known as Mulinge Ndeto, is a Kenyan footballer who plays for Kenyan Premier League side Ulinzi Stars as a defender. He previously played for K.C.B. and Tusker. He also appeared for ...
- former footballer for Kenya national team and
Ulinzi Stars Ulinzi Stars Football Club is a professional association football club based in Nakuru, Kenya. They compete in the Kenyan Premier League, where they won three consecutive titles from 2003 to 2005. They are the only team to have done so, along wit ...
*
Caleb Ndiku Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (born 9 October 1992 in Machakos) is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner. Career Born in Machakos, he was the son of a javelin thrower, David Ndiku, but he decided not to follow his father and focused on running in ...
- Kenyan middle and long-distance runner *
Joseph Nzau Joseph Nzau (born April 14, 1949) is a Kenyan former long-distance runner who represented his country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Nzau won the 1983 Chicago Marathon and the inaugural 1990 Belgrade Marathon. Running ...
- Kenyan long-distance runner, winner of the 1983
Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by eight cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was ins ...
and 1990
Belgrade Marathon The Belgrade Marathon () is an annual marathon race held in Belgrade since 1988. It is typically held in April and also features a half marathon (including half marathon relay) and 10K run. Additionally, a fun run for the public and kids marath ...
*
Peter Nzioki Peter King Nzioki Mwania (born 25 May 1978), popularly known as Peter King, is a Kenyan actor. He is best known for his roles in the films ''The Constant Gardener'', ''The Fifth Estate'' and ''Sense8''. Personal life Nzioki was born on 25 May 19 ...
- Kenyan actor *
Maria Wavinya Maria Wavinya (born 27 February 2001) is a Kenyan model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World Kenya 2019. She represented Kenya at Miss World 2019 and was placed in the top 12. She was the girlfriend to Khalif Kairo, a car bus ...
- Miss World Kenya, 2019 * Winfred Yavi - Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete,
2023 World Athletics Championships The 2023 World Athletics Championships (), the nineteenth edition of the World Athletics Championships, were held from 19 to 27 August 2023 at the National Athletics Centre (Budapest), National Athletics Centre, in Budapest, Hungary. The tourna ...
3000 metres Steeplechase winner and
2024 Olympics The 2024 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad () and branded as Paris 2024, were an international multi-sport event held in France from 26 July to 11 August 2024, with several events started from 24 July. P ...
champion


Businesspersons and professionals

* Patricia Ithau - Chief Executive Officer of WPP-Scangroup * Nzamba Kitonga - former President of the
East Africa Law Society The East Africa Law Society (EALS) is the regional Bar Association of East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique ...
and
COMESA The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a regional economic community in Africa with twenty-one member states stretching from Tunisia to Eswatini. COMESA was formed in December 1994, replacing a Preferential Trade Area whi ...
Court of Justice * Kathryne Maundu - Kenyan lawyer and Corporation Secretary of
Safaricom Safaricom PLC is a listed Kenyan mobile network operator headquartered at Safaricom House in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya, and one of the most profitable companies in the East and Central Africa region. T ...
, Kenya's largest mobile network operator *
Rebecca Mbithi Rebecca Mbithi, is a lawyer, accountant and corporate executive in Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the ...
- Kenyan lawyer and former Chief Executive Officer of
Family Bank Family Bank Limited (FBL), commonly known as Family Bank, is a commercial bank in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya, the central bank and national banking regulator. Overview ...
* Wilfred Musau - Kenyan banker and former Chief Executive Officer of
National Bank of Kenya National Bank of Kenya (NBK), also known as National Bank, is a commercial bank in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya, the central bank, and national banking regulator. Effectiv ...
* Carol Musyoka - Kenyan lawyer and business executive *
Eric Mutua Eric Kyalo Mutua (born 1970) is a Kenyan lawyer and politician. He has served as the chairman of the Law Society of Kenya The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is an organization mandated to advise and assist members of thlegal profession the governmen ...
- former chairman of the
Law Society of Kenya The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is an organization mandated to advise and assist members of thlegal profession the government and the larger public in all matters relating to the administration of justice in Kenya. It was established by an Act of ...
and treasurer of the
East Africa Law Society The East Africa Law Society (EALS) is the regional Bar Association of East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique ...
* Nzomo Mutuku - former Chief Executive Officer of the Retirement Benefits Authority of Kenya *
Willy Mutunga Willy Munyoki Mutunga, Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, EGH (born 16 June 1946) is a Kenyan lawyer, intellectual, reform activist, and was the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth Special Envoy to the Maldives. He is also an active member o ...
- former
Chief Justice of Kenya The chief justice of Kenya is a public office in the Republic of Kenya established under Article 161 of the country's Constitution as the head of the Judiciary of Kenya. Under Article 163, the chief justice also serves as the president of the S ...
* Irene Koki Mutungi - pilot for
Kenya Airways Kenya Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Kenya Airways, is the flag carrier airline of Kenya. The company was founded in 1977, after the dissolution of East African Airways. Its head office is located in Embakasi, Nairobi, with its Airline hu ...
and the first woman in Africa to become certified as a captain of the
Boeing 787 The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. After dropping its unconventional Sonic Cruiser project, Boeing announced the conventional 7E7 on January 29, 2003, wh ...
"Dreamliner" aircraft *
Philomena Mwilu Philomena Mbete Mwilu (born 15 April 1957) is a Kenyan lawyer and judge, who has served as the Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya since 28 October 2016. Following the retirement of Chief Justice David ...
- Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya * Angela Ndambuki - Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a non-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland and founded in Italy in 1 ...
and former Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry *
Stella Kilonzo Stella Kilonzo is a Kenyan accountant and business administrator. She is the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Markets Authority (Kenya). She was appointed to that position in July 2008, and she voluntarily stepped down at t ...
- former Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Markets Authority *
Chief Kivoi Mwendwa Chief Kivoi Wanjohi (born in the 1700s) was a Kamba long-distance trader who lived in the present day Kitui. Kivoi is most famous for guiding missionaries into the interior of the present day Kenya after he guided the German missionaries Johan ...
(1780 - 1852) - long distance trader who directed
Ludwig Krapf Johann Ludwig Krapf (11 January 1810 – 26 November 1881) was a German missionary in East Africa, as well as an explorer, linguist, and traveler. Krapf played an important role in exploring East Africa with Johannes Rebmann. They were the firs ...
to Mount Kenya; lived in present-day Kitui; Voi Town is named after him *
Kitili Maluki Mwendwa Kitili Maluki Mwendwa is a former Chief Justice of Kenya. He served between 1968–1971 and was succeeded by Sir James Wicks. Mwendwa, who was from Kitui, was the first African to become Chief Justice of Kenya. His brother, Ngala Mwendwa, served ...
- first black Chief Justice of independent Kenya * Nzioka Waita - 2nd State House Chief of Staff under President
Uhuru Kenyatta Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta ( born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. The son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, he previously served as Prime Minister of Kenya, Deputy Pri ...
and Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit *
Philip Waki Philip Waki is a retired Kenyan judge. He is best known for heading the 2008 Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence, also known as the Waki Commission. He retired from the Court of Appeal in October 201 He is also the cousin to Lawye ...
- retired Judge Court of appeal Kenya, best known for heading the 2008 Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence, also known as the Waki Commission


Military and security services

*
Jeremiah Kianga Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga (born 1950) is a Kenyan former Army Commander and Chief of the General Staff. He is known for having introduced the principle of Kaizen-continuous development for all officers in the Kenya Defence Forces. During his tenure ...
- former
Chief of the General Staff The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is a post in many armed forces (militaries), the head of the military staff. List * Chief of the General Staff (Abkhazia) * Chief of General Staff (Afghanistan) * Chief of the General Staff (Albania) * C ...
*
Eliud Mbilu Eliud Simon Mbilu was the longest serving commander of the Kenyan Navy from 1978 until his retirement in 1988. Early life Simon Mbilu was born the eldest of six siblings in 1942 in Mombasa, an island town of the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. ...
- former Commander of the
Kenya Navy The Kenya Navy is the naval branch of the Kenya Defence Forces. It is headquartered in Mombasa. Kenya Navy has two major bases for its fleet with it being headquartered in Mtongwe Naval Base, Mombasa and Manda Bay (part of Lamu Archipelag ...
*
Jackson Mulinge Jackson Kimeu Mulinge was a Kenyan military officer, and Chief of the General Staff in the 1980s. He was the longest serving head of Kenya's Armed Forces and the first Kenyan military officer to attain the rank of four-star general. Early life Mu ...
- former Chief of the General Staff of the
Kenya Defence Forces The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) (, stylized as "KENYA ARMED FORCES" capitalized on its coat of arms) are the armed forces of the Republic of Kenya. They are made up of the Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Air Force. The current KDF was establ ...
and first Kenyan to attain rank of full General *
Joseph Musyimi Lele Ndolo Major General Joseph Ndolo was a former Chief of the General Staff and the first African to head the armed forces of Kenya. Career Ndolo was a member of the King's African Rifles. At the time of his enlistment Ndolo was working in a plantation i ...
- first African Chief of General Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces and
Commander Kenya Army The commander, Kenya Army is the chief and highest-ranking officer of the Kenya Army The current commander is Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Tarus. List of officeholders References

* * * * * * *Kenya Yearbook 2010, pp430 *https://i ...
* Hillary Mutyambai - former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Service and
Inspector-General of Police An inspector-general of police is a senior police officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most ...


Politics and diplomacy

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Monica Juma Monica Kathina Juma (born 26 September 1963) is a Kenyan diplomat who currently serves as National Security Advisor to President William Ruto. She previously served as the Cabinet Secretary for Defence in the cabinet of President Uhuru Kenyatt ...
- National Security Advisor to President
William Ruto William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto (born 21 January 1967) is a Kenyan politician who is the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the first elected Deputy President of Kenya, ...
and former Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, for Defence and Energy and Petroleum * Kivutha Kibwana - former cabinet minister, former Dean of Law Faculty University of Nairobi and former Governor
Makueni County Makueni County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Wote. It's the largest town in the county. Emali town which is an important market and stop over for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is another major tow ...
* Kiema Kilonzo - first Kenyan ambassador to
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
*
Mutula Kilonzo Mutula Kilonzo (2 July 1948 – 27 April 2013) was a Kenyan politician and Senior Counsel, who served as Minister of Education after having previously served as Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan and justice and constitutional affairs He belon ...
(2 July 1948 – 27 April 2013) - Senior Counsel, former Cabinet Minister and first Senator of
Makueni County Makueni County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Wote. It's the largest town in the county. Emali town which is an important market and stop over for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is another major tow ...
*
Samuel Kivuitu Samuel Kivuitu (1939 – 25 February 2013) was head of the now defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya. He was reappointed to his post by the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki (15 November 1931 – 21 April 2022) was a Ke ...
(1939 – 25 February 2013) - chairman of the now defunct
Electoral Commission of Kenya Electoral Commission of Kenya refers to the now defunct commission that was disbanded by the 10th Parliament in 2008 and replaced with the Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya. Samuel Kivuitu the last Chairman of the Commission and th ...
*
Cleopa Kilonzo Mailu Cleopa Kilonzo Mailu (born c. 1956) is a Kenyan politician. He served as the Kenyan Minister of Health. Early life Cleopa Kilonzo Mailu was born circa 1956. He attended schools in Kyulu and Kangundo until he went to Friends School Kamusinga. He g ...
- former Cabinet Secretary of Health, Permanent Representative of Kenya to
United Nations Office at Geneva The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG, ) in Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the four major offices of the United Nations where numerous different UN agencies have a joint presence. The main UNOG administrative offices are located inside ...
and first African Chief Executive Officer of
The Nairobi Hospital The Nairobi Hospital is a private hospital located in Upper Hill area, Nairobi, Kenya.The hospital was founded in 1954 as the European Hospital, a hospital for Europeans. Location It is located along Argwings Kodhek Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi. ...
*
Richard Makenga Richard Katemi Makenga (born 12 September 1960) is a Kenyan businessman and politician, who is currently the Member of National Assembly for Kaiti Constituency in Makueni County, Kenya. He was elected Member of National Assembly in March 2013 aft ...
- Member of Parliament,
Kaiti Constituency Kaiti Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Makueni County Makueni County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Wote. It's the largest town in the county. Ema ...
* Julius Malombe - Governor of
Kitui County Kitui County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui. Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of about 1.2 million people (as of 2024)Ny ...
* Peninah Malonza - Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, former Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife * Peter Mathuki - 6th Secretary General of the
East African Community The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation in East Africa. The EAC's membership consists of eight states: Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, S ...
*Fred Mbiti Gideon Mati - First African Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya *Julius Muia - Permanent Secretary in Kenyan Ministry of Finance and former Principal Secretary in the State Department for Planning *David Musila - former Provincial Commissioner, former Director Tourism, MP for Mwingi South (1998–2013), former Assistant Minister for Defense, first Senator
Kitui County Kitui County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui. Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of about 1.2 million people (as of 2024)Ny ...
and former Chairman Wiper Democratic Party *Mutava Musyimi, MP - former Member of Parliament Gachoka constituency now Mbeere South Constituency in Embu County, Former Secretary General, National Council of Churches, Kenya *Kalonzo Musyoka - 10th Vice President of the Republic of Kenya and party leader of Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya, Wiper Democratic Party *Robert Mbui - Minority Whip in the national Assembly and MP, Kathiani Constituency *Johnson Muthama - Chairman of United Democratic Alliance (Kenya), United Democratic Alliance and First Senator of Machakos County *Alfred Mutua - Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Services, former Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife and for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, former Governor of
Machakos County Machakos County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, which came into being as part of the devolved system of governance occasioned by the 2010 constitution of Kenya. The county's administrative headquarters are in Machakos Town, which is the l ...
*Jonathan Mwangangi Mueke - former deputy Governor of Nairobi County *Ngala Mwendwa - member of Kenyan delegation to 1960 Lancaster House Conferences (Kenya), Lancaster House Conference and former Labour minister under Jomo Kenyatta *Nyiva Mwendwa - first female Cabinet Minister in Kenya *Gideon Ndambuki - former Member of Parliament, Kaiti Constituency *Wavinya Ndeti - Governor of
Machakos County Machakos County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, which came into being as part of the devolved system of governance occasioned by the 2010 constitution of Kenya. The county's administrative headquarters are in Machakos Town, which is the l ...
*Paul Ngei, Paul Joseph Ngei (18 October 1923 – 15 August 2004) - politician who was imprisoned for his role in the anti-colonial movement, but who went on to hold several government ministerial positions after independence *Charity Ngilu - former Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing and Urban Development and former Governor of
Kitui County Kitui County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui. Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of about 1.2 million people (as of 2024)Ny ...
; first woman to vie for presidency, in 1997 *Rachael Kaki Nyamai - Kenyan Member of Parliament for Kitui South *Mike Sonko - former Senator and Governor of Nairobi City County


Religion

*Urbanus Joseph Kioko - former Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Machakos *Boniface Lele - Catholic Archbishop (Emeritus), Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa *John Mbiti, John Samuel Mbiti - Kenyan-born Christian theologian and philosopher, considered "father of modern African Theology" *Martin Kivuva Musonde - Catholic Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa *Joseph Mwongela - Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kitui *Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki - retired Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi *Benjamin Nzimbi - retired Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya *Prophetess Syokimau - prophetess and healer


References


Sources

*
The Kamba on bluegekco, Tribes of Kenya
* Ethnology of A-Kamba and Other Cb Author; C. W. Hobley
Kenyan Parliament

cma.or.ke

kengen.co.ke

Members Of The 10th Parliament
*


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamba people Kamba people, Kamba,