Page from the Kikuyu publication Muigwithania (1929).
According to Ethnologue, there are a total of 68 languages spoken in Kenya. This variety is a reflection of the country's diverse population that includes most major ethnoracial and linguistic groups found in Africa (see Languages of Africa).
Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations. Today, English is the official language in Kenya, while Swahili enjoys the status of the national language.
British English is primarily used in Kenya. Additionally, a distinct local dialect, Kenyan English, is used by some communities and individuals in the country, and contains features unique to it that were derived from local Bantu languages such as Kiswahili and Kikuyu.[3] It has been developing since colonisation and also contains certain elements of American English. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling and government.[4] Peri-urban and rural dwellers are less multilingual, with many in rural areas speaking only their native languages.[5]