Turkana

The Turkana are a Nilotic ethnic group native to northwestern Kenya, centered around Lake Turkana. They are among East Africa’s largest pastoralist communities, historically dependent on cattle and other livestock for subsistence and social status.

They speak the Turkana language, a Nilotic language in the Nilo-Saharan family. Turkana society is traditionally organized around age-sets and clans, with distinct roles for men and women and rites of passage linked to cattle.

Cultural expression includes distinctive beadwork, leatherwork, and colorful dress. The economy remains predominantly pastoral, with seasonal cattle herding as well as goats and camels; some Turkana engage in small-scale farming, fishing near the lake, and cross-border trade.

The Turkana trace their roots to Nilotic migrations in East Africa over many centuries. In recent decades, drought, resource competition, and periodic cattle raiding have affected livelihoods and security. The Kenyan government recognizes Turkana County as the primary political district for the community, shaping development and representation.

Language and culture persist alongside modernization; many Turkana identify with Christianity or Islam alongside traditional beliefs, and education and urban migration influence changes in social structure. The Turkana are part of a broader ethnolinguistic landscape in the Horn of Africa and the Kenyan Rift Valley.