The Kikuyu of Tanzania

The Kikuyu of Tanzania, numbering approximately 50,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Bantu ethnic group indigenous to Central Kenya. They mostly adhere to Neo-Pentecostalism and Kikuyu is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Tanzania
People Cluster: Bantu, Gikuyu-Kamba
Primary Language(s): Kikuyu (kik)
Primary Religion(s): Neo-Pentecostalism
Population: 50,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG014959
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Kikuyu of Tanzania

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: Neo-Pentecostalism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

—
%
Neo-Pentecostalism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Kikuyu
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Gikuyu Speakers

Media Resources in Kikuyu:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Kikuyu:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
1965 Bible Society of Kenya✓✓
Bible Society of Kenya✓

2 entries

Or check out the Kikuyu bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Kikuyu 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 Kikuyu:
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 Kikuyu of Tanzania

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
read1 Chronicles 16:26

Pray that those among them who are lost and seeking after worthless idols will have the opportunity to hear and respond to the good news, seeing that Jesus is better than any idol.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
readPsalm 2:10-11

Pray for the rulers and authorities here to seek the Lord and serve Him only. Pray that the people they lead will be amazed by the work of God in their lives.

"...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
readMatthew 16:18b

Pray that God will build and grow His Church among this people.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
readEphesians 6:13

Pray that God will send believers to the lost of this people group and that, as they share the gospel, they will take up the whole armor of God so that they can stand firm when trials come.

Kikuyu Across Countries (ROP3 - 104997) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

4 people groups

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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