The Luhya are a group of 20 Bantu peoples native to western Kenya. They number 6,823,842 people according to the 2019 national census, accounting for about 14.34% of Kenya's total population.
Luhya refers to both the 20 Luhya Clans and their respective languages collectively called Luhya languages. There are 20 clans that make up the Luhya. Each has a distinct dialect. The word Luhya or Luyia in some of the dialects means "the north", and Abaluhya thus means "people from the north". Other translations are "those of the same hearth."
The seventeen clans are the Bukusu, Idakho, Isukha, Kabras, Khayo, Kisa, Marachi, Maragoli, Marama, Aba-luhya luo in Siaya, Nyala, Nyole, Samia, Tachoni, Tiriki, Tsotso, Wanga, and Batura. They are closely related to the Masaba, whose language is mutually intelligible with Luhya. The Bukusu and the Maragoli are the two largest Luhya clans.
The principal traditional settlement area of the Luhya is in what was formerly the Western province and Nyanza province of Kenya. A substantial number of them permanently settled in the Kitale and Kapsabet areas of the former Rift Valley province. Western Kenya is one of the most densely populated parts of Kenya.