The Ik of Kenya

The Ik of Kenya, numbering approximately 1,800 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic tribe indigenous to northeastern Uganda, near the Kenyan border. They mostly adhere to Ethnoreligion and Ik is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Ik

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Kenya
People Cluster: Khoisan
Primary Language(s): Ik (ikx)
Primary Religion(s): Ethnoreligion
Population: 1,800
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG014868
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Ik of Kenya

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Ethnoreligion
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

15%
%
Ethnoreligion Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Ik
Language Family: Kuliak

100%
%
Ik Speakers

Media Resources in Ik:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Ik:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Ik bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Ik are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Ik:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Ik of Kenya

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
readPsalm 51:1

Give thanks to God that He is able to forgive all the sins people might commit, and pray that many who don't yet know this will hear the good news and turn to Him for mercy.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
readIsaiah 43:19

Pray that the lost will see the new thing God can do in their lives and trust in His plan and purpose for them.

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
readIsaiah 25:9

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will proclaim and rejoice in His salvation.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
readPsalm 9:18

Pray that God will raise up believers who can help meet emotional and physical needs among this people group. Ask Him to open doors for them and give them the courage to walk into difficult situations and share the hope of the gospel boldly.

Teuso Across Countries (ROP3 - 109982) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

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