In addition to English, Kenya’s other official language is Swahili, also called Kiswahili. Kenya’s constitution identifies Kiswahili as the national language and recognizes Kiswahili and English as the country’s two official languages.
Swahili is a Bantu language that developed along the East African coast through centuries of trade and cultural contact. Its vocabulary includes significant influences from Arabic, Portuguese, English, and other languages, although its grammatical foundation is Bantu. The name “Swahili” comes from an Arabic word associated with the coast.
Kiswahili is used widely across Kenya in public life, education, broadcasting, politics, and everyday communication. English remains especially prominent in government, higher education, business, and the legal system. Many Kenyans speak both languages, often alongside one or more local languages.
A wording nuance sometimes causes confusion: Kenya’s constitution calls Kiswahili the national language, while English and Kiswahili together are official languages. In ordinary trivia usage, however, asking for the language “in addition to English” clearly points to Swahili. Swahili is also a major regional lingua franca throughout East and Central Africa.