List of Notable Luhya people and People of Luhya Descent. The Luhya (also known as Abaluyia or Luyia) are a group of 19 distinct Bantu tribes in Kenya that have a common origin and are politically united in the mid 11th century. They number 9,823,842 people according to the 2019 census, being about 14.35% of Kenya’s total population of 47.6 million, and are the largest ethnic group in Kenya.
Luhya refers to both the 19 Luhya tribes and their respective languages collectively called Luhya languages and the current Political spokesman is Wyclife Musalia Mudavadi. There are 19 (and by other accounts, 20, when the Suba are included) tribes that make up the Luhya. Each has a distinct dialect. The word Luhya or Luyia in some of the dialects means “the north”, and Abaluhya (Abaluyia) thus means “people from the north”. Other translations are “those of the same hearth.”
The seventeen tribes are the Bukusu (Aba-Bukusu), Idakho (Av-Idakho), Isukha (Av-Isukha), Kabras (Aba-Kabras), Khayo (Aba-Khayo), Kisa (Aba-Kisa), Marachi (Aba-Marachi), Maragoli (Aba-Logoli), Marama (Aba-Marama), Nyala (Aba-Nyala), Nyole (Aba-Nyole), Samia (Aba-Samia), Tachoni (Aba-Tachoni), Tiriki (Aba-Tiriki), Tsotso (Abatsotso), Wanga (Aba-Wanga), and Batura (Abatura). They are closely related to the Masaba (or Gisu), whose language is mutually intelligible with Luhya. The Bukusu and the Maragoli are the two largest Luhya sub-tribes.
The principal traditional settlement area of the Luhya is in what was formerly the Western province and Nyanza province of Kenya. A substantial number of them permanently settled in the Kitale and Kapsabet areas of the former Rift Valley province. Western Kenya is one of the most densely populated parts of Kenya. Migration to their present Luhyaland (a term of endearment referring to the Luhya’s primary place of settlement in Kenya after the Bantu expansion) dates back to as early as the 1450s.
Immigrants into present-day Luhyaland trace their ancestry with several Bantu groups and Cushitic groups, as well as peoples like the Kalenjin, Luo, and Maasai. By 1850, migration into Luhyaland was largely complete, and only minor internal movements occurred after that due to disease, droughts, domestic conflicts and the effects of British colonialism.
List of Notable Luhya people and People of Luhya Descent in Academics, Medicine and science
- Laban Ayiro, Kenyan academic, currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of Daystar University
- Lukoye Atwoli Kenyan Psychiatrist .
- Francis D. Imbuga Kenyan writer, playwright, literature scholar, teacher and professor at Kenyatta University,
- Filemona F. Indire, distinguished statesman, Kenyan ambassador to the Soviet Union, one of Africa’s first African university professors, Kenyan Member of Parliament (1983-1988)
- Calestous Juma, distinguished Professor, Harvard University
- Susane Nabulindo, Kenyan consultant anesthesiologist
- Catherine Nyongesa (born in 1970), is a Kenyan physician and radiation oncologist.
- Nanjala Nyabola Kenyan Writer.
- Ken Walibora, Kenyan writer
- Elon Willis Wameyo, The first gynecologist in Kenya
- Gideon Were (27 October 1934 – 7 July 1995) Kenyan professor
- Dr. Blasio Vincent Oriedo, pioneering African epidemiologist and a parasitological medical scientist known for his contributions to tropical medicine and stemming a myriad of disease epidemics in the colonial era and embryonic postcolonial Kenya, in Sudan and countries in East and Central Africa.
- Miriam Were, Kenyan public health advocate, academic, and recipient of the first Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize.
- Calestous Juma Kwada, Busia, Bunyala Prominent global advocate for sustainable development in struggling countries.(Late – Died with 64 years)
List of Notable Luhya people and People of Luhya Descent in Politics, activism, trade unionism, diplomacy and law
- Francis Atwoli, Cotu Secretary General and vice president world trade unions
- Moody Awori, 9th Vice President of Kenya (September 2003 – January 2008)
- Aggrey Awori (1939–2021) Ugandan economist
- Beatrice Elachi is a Kenyan politician
- Nancy Makokha Baraza (born 1957 ) first Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya
- Zachaias Chesoni, former Chief Justice
- Cyrus Jirongo, former politician
- Michael Wamalwa Kijana, 8th Vice President of Kenya (January–August 2003)
- Eric Edward Khasakhala (1926–2000) former MP of Emuhaya
- Ruth Habwe (died 1996), Kenyan feminist activist and politician. In 1964 she became notably, a first among women to challenge a male-only parliamentarian system. When she contested one of the three special parliamentary seats vacant at the time, she was suspended from party membership and ridiculed “to go back to the Kitchen and cook for Habwe’s children”.
- Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
- Musikari Kombo, Chairman FORD-Kenya, Minister for Local Government
- Alfred Khang’ati Kenyan politician
- George Khaniri Kenyan politician
- Kenneth Marende, Speaker of the National Assembly
- Elijah Masinde, Bukusu leader
- Moses Mudavadi (1923-1989) politician from Sabatia.
- Musalia Mudavadi, Deputy Prime Minister and 7th Vice President (September 2002 – December 2002)
- Masinde Muliro (1922–1992), freedom fighter, Member of Parliament (Kitale East & Cherangany)
- Nabongo Mumia Leader of the Wanga Kingdom.
- Elijah Mwangale, Foreign Minister of Kenya 1983–87
- Ababu Namwamba, Kenyan politician
- Burudi Nabwera, diplomat.
- Reuben Sechele Nyangweso Majority Leader Kakamega county Assembly (2013–present)
- Phyllis Omido Kenyan environmental activist.
- Esau Khamati Oriedo (circa AD 1888–1993), a colonial era politician, freedom fighter; detained alongside Mzee Kenyatta, original trade union movement founding member of KAU, philanthropist, legal and religious advocate, a veteran of both world wars and soldier in King’s African Rifles.
- Paul Otuoma (born 15 September 1966)Kenyan politician
- Martin Shikuku, former MP Butere Constituency
- Soita Shitanda (9 November 1959 – 24 May 2016), Kenyan politician
- Lawrence Sifuna (born January 23, 1946) Kenyan politician
- David Eseli Simiyu, MP Kimilili Constituency
- Wafula Wabuge, Kenya’s ambassador to Uganda, UN & US (1981–1986). Former Member of Parliament
- Judy Wakhungu Kenya’s Ambassador to France
- Smokin Wanjala, Kenyan lawyer and associate justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya
- Amos Wako, Former Attorney General of Kenya, Senator Busia county (2013–present)
- Sylvester Wakoli Bifwoli (born 1952) Kenyan politician
- Benjamin Jomo Washiali Kenyan politician
- Noah Wekesa Former Minister for Forestry and Wildlife.
- Alfred Sambu (1944) Kenyan politician
- Javan Ommani Lurambi Member of Parliament1992
- Joseph Mugalla Jolly Cotu Secretary General from 1987.
- Henry Ikatukhu Mpapale currently the ICAI East & Southern Africa Regional representative.
List of Notable Luhya people and People of Luhya Descent in Business and Economics
- Jeremy Awori, MD & CEO, ABSA BANK KENYA PLC.
- Ayisi Makatiani, MD & CEO of Fanisi Capital Ltd.
- Mubarak Muyika, Founder & CEO of Zagace.
List of Notable Luhya people and People of Luhya Descent in Arts, music and media
- Bien-Aimé Baraza, Sauti Sol band member
- Daudi Kabaka (1939–2001), musician
- Pamella Makotsi-Sittoni (born 1969) Kenyan journalist
- Yolanda Masinde Miss World finalist, 2000.
- Gloria Muliro, Kenyan Gospel Artist
- Azziad Nasenya, Kenyan Actress
- Hilary Ng’weno, Historian and veteran journalist
- Mary Kavere, Veteran actor in Kenya
- Nonini, Kenyan Musician
- Winfred Adah Omwakwe, Miss Earth 2002. The first from an African country.
- Daddy Owen, Musician
- Khadambi Asalache(28 February 1935 – 26 May 2006), Kenyan poet and author
List of Notable Luhya people and People of Luhya Descent in Religion
- Festo Habakkuk Olang’, the first African Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, from 1970 to 1980
- Maurice Michael Otunga, Catholic cardinal
- Eliud Wabukala, Kenyan Anglican Archbishop
- Joseph W. Sitati (born 16 May 1952) A general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2009
- Archibishop Byrum A. Makokha
List of Notable Luhya people and People of Luhya Descent in Sports
- Josephat Ababu, Kenyan cricketer
- Biko Adema, Kenyan rugby player.
- Willy Ambaka, Kenyan rugby player.
- Violet Barasa (1975–2007), volleyball player
- Joe Kadenge, footballer
- Collin Injera, Kenyan rugby player.
- Humphrey Kayange, Kenyan rugby player.
- McDonald Mariga, footballer, Politician Jubilee Party
- Joe Masiga, footballer (Abaluhya Football Club)
- Ayub Masika, Kenyan professional footballer
- Clifton Miheso (born 5 February 1993), Kenyan footballer.
- Robert Wangila Napunyi, boxer
- Victor Wanyama, footballer
- Anne Wafula Strike MBE (born 8 May 1969), British Paralympic wheelchair racer.
- Allan Wanga, Kenyan footballer
- Paul Wekesa, Kenyan Tennis player
- Stewart Faulkner, Long Jumper
