Embu

Embu refers to several related topics in Kenya: an ethnic group, their language, and a county. The Embu are a Bantu-speaking community living mainly in eastern Kenya, especially in what is now Embu County. They are closely related to the Kikuyu and Meru peoples and speak Kiembu, a Bantu language. Kiembu is part of the larger Kikuyu–Meru subgroup and is mutually intelligible to some degree with neighboring languages; most Embu people also commonly use Kiswahili and English.

The Embu language, Kiembu, is traditionally oral but has modern use in education and media, with Latin script. The language thrives in cultural practices, storytelling, and music.

Embu County is a county in central Kenya, in the Mount Kenya region. The county seat is Embu Town; Runyenjes is another major urban center. The area is characterized by highland terrain and a climate suitable for agriculture. The economy centers on farming, including coffee, tea, and horticulture, as well as small-scale trade and services. The county forms part of Kenya's devolved government established by the 2010 constitution.