Portrait photos of Kenya, Kenya

The Nilotic people of Kenya are the most traditional, with their distinctive dress and decorations. In the south, along the border with Tanzania, live the Maasai, with boys and young men looking after their cattle. The Samburu and Turkana live in the arid northwest of the country.

These are the faces of traditional Maasai, the related Samburu and the Turkana. All use red ochre to decorate their faces, and especially women and girls have the most intricate beadwork decorations. These are the faces of traditional people, self-assured in their culture.

The Somali boy in Isiolo would be descended from soldiers who settled in the area after the First World War. Speaking a Cushitic language, the Somalis are Muslims and primarily engaged in business.