Turkana in Kenya

People Name:	Turkana
Country:	Kenya
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	1,336,000
World Population:	1,395,000
Primary Language:	Turkana
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	48.00 %
Evangelicals:	22.16 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Nilotic
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Turkana people are the second largest of the pastoral people of Kenya. They occupy the far northwest corner of the nation, an area of about 67,000 square kilometers.

Around 1700, the Turkana emigrated from the Uganda area over a period of years. They took over the area which is the Turkana district today by simply displacing the existing people of the area. Turkana warriors today still take pride in their reputation as the most fearless fighters in East Africa.

The biggest events for life of Turkana are marriage and child birth. Other cultural rituals such as circumcision are completed with little ceremony. The marriage however, may be in process for as long as three years. Subsequent to the payment of bride price, the wife to be is brought into the home of her husband. The wedding ceremony is not performed until after at least one healthy child is weaned.

Adherence to the traditional religion is weak and seems almost nonchalant among the Turkana. Therefore, if the message of Christ's deliverance is introduced to these people, they would accept it wholeheartedly.