Samburu in Kenya

The Samburu have only been reported in Kenya
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Kenya's Samburu speakers resisted acceptance of the Gospel for 50 years. Yet God opened their hearts, and many now follow Christ.

Like the related Maasai, many Samburu are nomadic cattle herders. Five to 10 families move together to new pasture lands every five weeks. Pastors regularly visit city and village families, but maintaining contact with nomads is difficult. Those believers have few Christians for fellowship, when they move so much.

Pastors preach from the available Maasai translation to the Samburu and a neighboring group, the Ilchamus, but they struggle to communicate Scripture concepts effectively. Language is a significant hurdle, though the groups are related. Some Maasai words are derogatory or vulgar in Samburu.

Cultural differences also create issues between Samburu and Ilchamus villages. Many Ilchamus people fish and grow crops for a living. These are taboo activities for the Maasai and are seldom done by Samburu speakers.

In a 2004 meeting, about 11 Samburu church leaders from various denominations shared a story: "The Samburu once had a 'book.' But a cow ate their 'book.' And the only way to get the 'book' back is through the cow." Church leaders then promised to each donate a cow to help fund translation work.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Samburu in Kenya.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Samburu
People Name in Country Samburu
Alternate Names Burkeneji
Population this Country 356,000
Population all Countries 356,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14672
ROP3 Code 108573
Country Kenya
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties: Lake Turkana east towards Marsabit.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Kenya
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties: Lake Turkana east towards Marsabit..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 12.00 %)
30.00 %
Ethnic Religions
70.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Samburu (356,000 speakers)
Language Code saq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Samburu (356,000 speakers)
Language Code saq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Samburu
Photo Source Ninaras - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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