The Dahalo

Kenya's smallest counted community, near the mouth of the Tana, with a rare language of clicks.

Homeland

The Dahalo live near the mouth of the Tana River in Lamu and Tana River counties. The 2019 census counted 575 people, making them Kenya's smallest counted community.

Language

Dahalo is a Southern Cushitic language. It is remarkable for click consonants, otherwise almost unknown outside southern Africa and Tanzania. Only a handful of speakers remain.

Three dhows with cream sails in the Lamu channel — Lamu County.

History

The Dahalo are former elephant hunters.

Sources

From The Peoples of Kenya: An Ethnographic Reference (Kenya Experience, November 2026), a synthesis of published sources. Practices described as traditional are historical baselines; today most Kenyans are Christian or Muslim, live in or near towns and speak Swahili and English. Spot something to correct? Write to kibetck@kenyaexperience.org.

Common questions

Where do the Dahalo live?

Near the mouth of the Tana River in Lamu and Tana River counties.

Does the Dahalo language have clicks?

Yes. Dahalo has click consonants, otherwise almost unknown outside southern Africa and Tanzania. Only a handful of speakers remain.

What is the smallest tribe in Kenya?

Of the communities counted in the 2019 census, the Dahalo are the smallest, with 575 people.

Umoja

Umoja means unity.

More than forty peoples, one Kenya

Kenya's many communities, languages and traditions are one of its great strengths, and the reason no two days of a Kenya trip feel the same. Meet them through hosts, guides and neighbors on a trip planned by Kenyans.

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Related peoples

All of Kenya's peoples