The Kikuyu are the largest community in Kenya. They are Bantu speakers and are found mainly in the central part of the country. The founder of the tribe, according to traditions, was a man named Gikuyu. God, known as Ngai, took him to the top of Kirinyaga, now Mount Kenya, and told him to start the tribe. Ngai provided him with a wife, Mumbi, who together fathered nine daughters. From these daughters different clans originated. These clans are Achera, Agachiku, Airimu, Ambui, Angare, Anjiru, Angui, Aithaga and Aitherandu.

A family unit was called a nyumba. Several related families would form the hamlet that was called mucii. A mucii was part of an ‘mbari’ subgroup that made up the nine clans. In traditional Kikuyu culture, people, livestock, and children were not counted in total, as this was thought to be a bad foul. The clans could be said to be ten, but they only counted nine.

The traditional Kikuyu culture allowed them to intermarry with the original inhabitants of the central province. They were farmers and the area was propitious for this activity. They would grow bananas, sugarcane, lilies, yams, beans, millet, corn, black beans, and a variety of vegetables. They also raised cattle for milk and fur. The skins were used to make traditional clothing, sandals, bedding, and carrying straps. They learned the barter trade and would exchange their agricultural products for arrowheads, spears, and swords. Women were the ones engaged in trade. They also made vessels that were used for barter.