FIGURE 25: Educational achievement by county (15 years+, not currently attending)
2
13
Percent of population
100
80
60
1
12
20
3
15
29
63
40
40
36
67
20
69
40
36
20
0
38
17
17
6
Shona
National
(urban)
Population average
Shona
No education (< primary)
29
18
3
National
Shona
1
National
Kiambu County
Nairobi County
~Primary
~Higher
~Secondary
Other
Source: Shona SES (2019) and KIHBS (KNBS 2015/16).
FIGURE 26: Educational achievement by county and gender (15 years+, not currently attending)
Percent of population
100
80
4
16
22
60
40
38
67
35
20
0
13
Shona
4
National
(urban)
Men
1
10
18
2
15
18
41
35
68
70
38
21
Shona
8
National
(urban)
9
22
2
National
Shona
Women
Men
Population average
No education (< primary)
31
60
39
66
28
21
National
Shona
27
40
36
22
Shona
3
National
14
Shona
Women
Men
Kiambu County
~Primary
1
12
39
69
39
12
4
6
19
~Secondary
30
1
National
Women
Nairobi County
~Higher
Other
Source: Shona SES (2019) and KIHBS (KNBS 2015/16).
30. Literacy rates for urban nationals are higher than the Shona community average—and vary significantly by gender. About 89 percent of the Shona community ages 15 years and above are able to
read and write in at least one language.29 Across genders, 85 percent of women in this group are able
to do so compared to 93 percent of men (Figure 27). In urban Kenya, 93 percent of those ages 15 years
and older are literate in at least one language, with men and women having a literacy rate of 95 percent and 91 percent, respectively. Considering the two official languages in Kenya, the majority of the
Shona community report being able to read and write in both English and Swahili (Figure 28). Still,
Shona men are more likely to speak English or Swahili than women. Even though literacy is associated
with higher levels of education and socioeconomic standing, and skill with an official national language
of Kenya may help facilitate commercial opportunities, the lack of recognition as Kenya citizens can
hinder the Shona from utilizing these skills to their full potential.
29 No reading or writing tests were completed, and thus these are self-reported estimates.
Findings
10183_Shona Report.indd 21
21
12/14/20 2:56 PM