People group profile · PG014867
The Teso of Kenya
The Teso of Kenya, numbering about 486,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are Nilotic farmers of western Kenya's Busia County descended from migrants traditionally led by the hero Oduk around 1500 AD, distinguished from related Teso-speaking groups by a long-standing reliance on agriculture over cattle-keeping.
They are an indigenous people in the Nilotic people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Teso.
Fast facts
- Country
- Kenya
- Population
- 486,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Nilotic
- Primary language
- Teso (teo)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Teso are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Teso
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
90% adherents
Primary language
Teso · Nilotic family
92% speak Teso
Gospel resources in Teso
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Bibles
- Ateso Old Version Bible 1961 · video, audio, text
- Bible Society of Kenya · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Teso
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Teso in other countries
The same people (ROP3 109975) is reported in 1 other country.
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