Kenyans in the U.S.. Updated November 2026. 5 min read.
If you have lived in the U.S. for more than a year, you probably belong to at least three Kenyan WhatsApp groups: the church, the welfare, and the one for your old school. Kenyan community life in America runs on these groups. They raise money when someone dies, welcome newcomers, hold Jamhuri Day parties and, more and more, organize trips home together. This page is a starting directory, by type and by metro, and a guide to using them well.
A note on how we built it. We name only groups we could confirm in public sources, such as the Kenyan Embassy's own list of registered associations and community media. Groups change officers, names and websites often, so check with each one directly. If your association is missing, ask us to add it.
How the community is organized
| Kind of group | What it does | How to find one |
|---|---|---|
| Welfare associations | Bereavement and medical funds, often by city or state | Ask at a Kenyan church or community event |
| Churches and fellowships | Sunday services in English, Kiswahili or a mother tongue; the center of life in many cities | Search your city with 'Kenyan church' or ask friends |
| Women's and men's networks | Support, mentoring, events and conventions | National groups with local chapters |
| Saccos and investment groups | Savings, loans and investment, often in Kenya | Check registration and accounts carefully |
| Alumni groups | Old school and university networks; scholarships at home | Through your school's alumni office or classmates |
| County-of-origin groups | People from one county or community; projects back home | Often linked to welfare groups |
| Professional and student groups | Networking, scholarships, careers | Through universities and the embassy's directory |
National and multi-state groups
- Kenyan Women in the United States (KWITU): founded in 2015 to connect and support Kenyan women in America, with chapters across the country according to community media; it held its 10th anniversary reunion in St Paul, Minnesota, in August 2025, and the embassy lists it as a registered association based in New Jersey
- Kenyan Christian Fellowship in America (KCFA): a fellowship with local chapters; its Triangle chapter in North Carolina appears on the embassy's list
- Kenya Scholars and Studies Association (KESSA): an association of scholars of Kenya, listed by the embassy in Ohio
- Kenya North America Diaspora Sacco: a savings and credit cooperative listed by the embassy in Dallas
- East Africa Chamber of Commerce: a business association listed by the embassy in Dallas
By metro
| Metro | Groups we could confirm | Where community life happens |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis and St Paul | MKIDA, the Minnesota Kenyan International Development Association, founded in 2003; Mwanyagetinge, on the embassy's list | Kenyan churches in Brooklyn Park, Burnsville and St Paul |
| Dallas and Fort Worth | Kenya North America Diaspora Sacco; East Africa Chamber of Commerce | Kenyan churches in Arlington, Grand Prairie and Garland |
| Austin and San Antonio | Kenyan Diaspora Advisory Council of Texas (KDACT), Austin; Kenyans in Austin Welfare Association; Kenyans in San Antonio (KENSAT) | Welfare groups and churches across central Texas |
| Houston | Ask your church; we have not confirmed a citywide association | Large Kenyan churches in Alief, Katy and Sugar Land |
| Atlanta | Kenyan Parents in USA, Georgia, on the embassy's list; Kenyan Americans Community Organization, Duluth | Kenyan churches in Lawrenceville, Marietta and Stone Mountain |
| Seattle | Ask your church; community organizations are concentrated in the south suburbs | Kent, Federal Way and Renton |
| Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia | The Kenyan Embassy itself, with its diaspora desk | Churches and welfare groups across the suburbs |
| Boston | Ask your church | Kenyan churches and associations in Lowell, Worcester and Boston |
| New York and New Jersey | KWITU and Global Connections Foundation, both listed by the embassy in New Jersey | The Bronx, Queens, Newark and Jersey City |
| Michigan | Wakenya in Michigan Association (WIMA); West Michigan Kenyans | Detroit and Grand Rapids areas |
| Raleigh and Durham | Kenyan Christian Fellowship in America, Triangle chapter | The Triangle's churches |
| Cincinnati | Kenyan-Cincinnati Association, a nonprofit founded in 2003 | Greater Cincinnati |
| Utah | Association of Kenyans in Utah (AKU) | Salt Lake City area |
Our city pages, for New York, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte and Philadelphia, describe each community and the best flights home.
The embassy and consular outreach
The Embassy of Kenya in Washington DC keeps a register of diaspora associations and has said it engages only with associations that are properly registered and recognized. It has asked associations to send their details, leadership, membership and governing documents to its diaspora desk; the embassy website explains how. From time to time the embassy also holds consular outreach in cities with large communities, for passports, IDs and dual-citizenship questions; dates are announced on its website and social media, and local associations usually help organize them. If your association is planning one, it is worth asking to host.
Using your association for welfare
Welfare groups are the safety net of the community. When a member dies, they raise money quickly, help with the funeral home and the embassy's letter for transporting the remains, and support the family in America and at home. Join one before you need it: many funds only pay out to paid-up members, and dues are usually modest. Our guide to going home for a funeral covers the practical side of that trip.
Using your association for travel
Associations, churches and alumni groups increasingly travel home together: a December trip with a safari, a mission or service visit, a county development tour, or a heritage trip with African American friends. Group travel works best when one person organizes and everyone pays their own way. With us, the organizer creates one link, shares it in the WhatsApp group, and each traveler books and pays in full or monthly with no deposit. The organizer sees who has paid and can earn their own place. Our group trips guide explains how it works.
Before you give money or join a sacco
- Check that a charity or welfare group is registered, and look it up in the IRS's tax-exempt organization search if it claims nonprofit status
- Ask who the elected officers are, and when the last election was
- Ask for the constitution and the latest accounts; a good group shares them
- For saccos and investment groups, ask where they are registered and regulated, and never invest money you cannot afford to lose
- Pay into the group's account, not a person's, and get a receipt
Ask to be listed
This directory is a start, not a complete list. If you run a Kenyan association, welfare group, fellowship or alumni chapter in the U.S., send us its name, city, a public contact and a link, and we will add it once we have checked it. We also come and talk to associations about December trips, KESCA for young people and group travel; ask us.
Sources and official links
- Kenya Embassy, Washington DC: engagement with Kenyan diaspora associations
- Kenya Embassy directory: Kenyan Women in the United States (KWITU)
- Kenya Embassy directory: Kenyan Diaspora Advisory Council of Texas
- Mshale: KWITU's 10th anniversary convention in Minnesota (2025)
- Huduma Global: how to find and join Kenyan diaspora associations
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
