The Kikuyu today are the most prominent people of all in Kenya with a population of about 4 million people. Their energy, ability to accept the modern ways of life have made them known not only in Kenya but throughout East Africa.

According to historical legend, the Kikuyu trace their origin from the family of Gikuyu and Mumbi who gave birth to nine girls and that their god "Ngai" sent nine boys who married the nine girls thus giving birth to the nine clans of the Kikuyu society on which the political foundation of the Kikuyu is built.

Politically, the Kikuyu like any other stateless societies belonged to a family and each family was a local territorial group which formed the clan or "Mbari". 

Each Mbari was led by a council of elders and the head of which was called "Muramati" who wasn't necessarily a chief nor was his position hereditary but he was simply the most distinguished man.  Each Mbari belonged to one of the nine clans of the Kikuyu and it was led by a council of elders whose duties included: Settling disputes within the clan or Mbari; Maintaining law and order in the whole clan; organising the clan as a whole in order to keep the traditions and the legends of the clan.

"Above the clan or Mbari councils of elders was the great clan council of Mbari four elders (Kiama) whose functions included".

Organising the whole Kikuyu society

Settling important matters which involved either individual Mbari's or could not be solved by the clan councils.

Defending the whole Kikuyu society against external aggression.

Therefore whenever any important matters arose, a meeting involving heads of clans was called and this was locally known as "Athamki" which usually would settle issues pertaining to the whole society and although their meetings did not have written rules of procedure, they were guided by oral tradition under which all elders participated.  This is a clear testimony that the Kikuyu society was democratically organized and indeed had a mechanism of maintaining law and order.

Apart from the clan or the Mbari councils of elders, the Kikuyu society was also assisted by age-set system "Mariika" and each "riika" consisted of those who had been circumcised at the same time who would be organized and put in groups where they would be trained to become warriors which not only included boys but also girls many of whom had to undergo cliterdom as a sign of womanhood. 

These age-sets helped the youth to learn their duties as members of society, maintain their traditional culture but most importantly defended their societies.

Militarily, the Kikuyu like any other decentralised society did not have a regular or standing army and therefore in time of war or crisis, each Mbari or clan council of elders had a duty of Organising the age sets especially the boys who would be formed into an army, put under a commander to face the enemy either externally or internally. 

After the war, the youth would be free to return to their home area and continue with their normal life as they used to before going to war.

Economically, the Kikuyu were mainly agriculturists although they carried out some little pastrolism and trade, they reared mostly goats, some few sheep and cattle.  They cultivated maize, beans, peas, pumpkins and some little cotton.

By the mid 19th Century, the Kikuyu were exchanging their agricultural products with the Masai for milk and magic and also exchanged their products with the Akamba for imported goods like ornaments, cloths, porcelain among others.

Very few Kikuyu participated in Long Distance Trade though they used to raid the Masai for slaves whom they sold to the Akamba.  Generally, there was no central control of the Kikuyu economy and each family depended on its strength and climatical conditions of the region.

Socially, among the Kikuyu, the father was the head of the family and these families had a common ancestor called the Mbari or the clan where each member of the Kikuyu society traced his or her origin.

Women had no say in the council of elders because they could not be allowed to sit and discuss on matters concerning society because these were mainly a concern of men especially of ages 40 and above.

Religion was of great importance among the Kikuyu for they believed that their fore-parents that is Gikuyu and Mumbi were created by God or Ngai who was commonly believed to be living around Mt. Kirinyaga (Kenya) and that is why whenever the Kikuyu were praying, they faced Mt. Kenya where Ngai lived which generally gave them some superficial unity because they believed in a common source of origin.