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People group profile · PG014779

The Dahalo of Kenya

The Dahalo of Kenya, numbering about 650 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a small and endangered ethnic group in coastal Kenya, primarily near the mouth of the Tana River.

They are an indigenous people in the Rift people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Swahili (individual language).

Pray for the DahaloPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Dahalo people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Dahalo

Fast facts

Country
Kenya
Population
650
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Rift
Primary language
Swahili (individual language) (swh)
Primary religion
Animism
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Pioneer Unreached People Group
Region
Eastern Africa, Africa
Location
Lamu and Tana River counties: near Tana river mouth

Where they live

Gospel status

The Dahalo are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Dahalo

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Animism · Ethnoreligion

95% adherents

Primary language

Swahili (individual language) · Atlantic-Congo family

100% speak Swahili (individual language)

Gospel resources in Swahili (individual language)

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Dahalo

  1. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  2. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  3. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  4. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

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