Kenya is home to a rich mix of cultures, each with its own unique traditions—and one of the most fascinating ways these traditions come to life is through play. Across the country, there is a vibrant history of indigenous games played for various communities in Kenya, handed down from generation to generation.
These games are more than just entertainment; they sharpen physical skills, encourage teamwork, and pass on cultural knowledge, all while bringing communities together.
Here’s a closer look at some of the most interesting games from different Kenyan communities.
Table of Contents
Indigenous Games Played for Various Communities in Kenya #1. Mancala-Family Strategy Games
Several Kenyan communities play versions of mancala, a strategy board game involving pits and counters (like seeds or stones).
These are often slow-thinking games that sharpen planning and counting skills.
- Giuthi – Played mainly by the Kikuyu and Embu, this two-player game uses pits dug into the ground and small stones or beans as counters. Players sow and capture seeds in strategic patterns.
- Kiothi – A variant played by the Meru, with a specific 2×10 layout and rules about sowing and capturing seeds from traps.
- Mbothe – Played by the Pokomo people along the Tana River, this mancala game uses ground pits and has special rules for specific pit contents.
- Endodoi and Enkeshui – Versions associated with the Maasai, also part of the mancala family, with local tweaks in board size and play.
Indigenous Games Played for Various Communities in Kenya #2. Abstract Strategy Games
These don’t require balls or running but focus on logical thinking.
- Shisima – A two-player strategy game played by the Tiriki (among others). Players move pieces along an octagonal board to make a straight line of three pieces.
Types of Indigenous Games #3. Tagging and Chasing Games
Many Kenyan communities played versions of tag that involve chasing, dodging, and teamwork.
- Hunia – A tag game familiar around the Mount Kenya region (Meru, Kikuyu, Embu). One player tries to tag another, shouting “hunia!” as part of the chase. It’s commonly played in groups and develops speed and coordination.
- Kati / Kati-Kati – A team chasing or dodge-type game, often involving hitting players with a ball while they avoid being hit.
Traditional Games in Kenya #4. Physical and Relay Games
Games involving running, jumping or relay actions were part of everyday play.
- Duf Mpararo – Similar to hopscotch, players jump through grid patterns drawn on the ground, helping balance and agility.
- Stick-Kick Relay – A race where participants kick a stick between points in a relay format.
5. Reflex, Counting and Quick Response Games
Games that mix cognitive skills with physical actions.
- Nyama Nyama – A reactive game where one player names an animal and others respond if it’s one that people eat.
- Brikicho / Tapo – Hide-and-seek style play.
6. Community-Specific and Other Traditional Activities
Some communities have unique games tied to local culture or environment.
- Among the Abanyala (Luhya) of Kakamega, children played games like Okhwechingicha (rope skipping patterns), Okhwesuba (swinging), and family memory games involving naming relatives. Youth learned swimming skills through river games like Okhusoka. (mukhamba.blogspot.com)
- In parts of western Kenya, traditional bullfighting connected to harvest celebrations has been practiced historically and remains a cultural event in some areas. (apnews.com)
Across Kenya, these indigenous games weren’t just about fun; they carried meanings linked to local life, teaching cooperation, physical fitness, counting, social roles and strategic thinking as part of community upbringing.
Simi Le a Kenya Games
I couldn’t find any reliable information online about a Kenyan game called “simi le a”. It’s possible that the name might be spelled differently, that it’s a very local name for a game known by another name, or that it isn’t widely documented on the internet.
If you’re referring to a traditional Kenyan game and the spelling might be a bit off, a known game with a somewhat similar‑sounding name is Shisima — an abstract strategy board game from the Tiriki community in western Kenya. In Shisima, two players each have three pieces called imbalavali (meaning “water bugs”), and they take turns moving them on an octagonal board. The goal is to get three of your pieces in a straight line, using logic and planning much like in tic‑tac‑toe, though on a more complex board. (Wikipedia)
If you meant a different game, a few possibilities are:
- The name might be a local dialect or dialectalisms that aren’t widely recorded online.
- It could be a game known by another common name (for example, hopscotch‑like games people call brikicho or tapo in some parts of Kenya). (Reddit)
- It might be a localized name for a version of a familiar game (like some mancala variants or ball games).
Rood Shasa of Game
I couldn’t find any information online about a game called “rood shasa” or similar as a traditional or indigenous game from Kenya. The term doesn’t match any documented Kenyan game names or descriptions in the sources I checked. It’s possible the name might be spelled differently, could be a very local dialect name for a known game, or might refer to something outside Kenyan traditional play.
One well‑known traditional Kenyan game that sounds roughly similar is Shisima, a strategy board game played by children and adults in parts of western Kenya. In Shisima, two players each control three pieces and take turns moving them along lines on an octagonal board. The goal is to be the first to form a straight line of three pieces that goes through the center point of the board. The game helps build strategic thinking and spatial awareness, and pieces are sometimes called “water bugs” in local descriptions.