* Mother Tongue (or Home Language): Kenya has over 40 different ethnic groups, each with its own language. A child's first language will almost always be one of these numerous indigenous languages, such as Swahili, Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin, Kamba, or many others.
* Swahili: Swahili is Kenya's national language and a *lingua franca*—a common language used across different ethnic groups for communication. It's taught in schools and widely used in media, commerce, and government. Even children whose mother tongue isn't Swahili typically learn it at a young age.
* English: English is the official language of Kenya and the medium of instruction in most schools, particularly in secondary and higher education. Therefore, Kenyan children will learn English, although the proficiency level varies.
In short, Kenyan children are generally multilingual, often speaking their mother tongue, Swahili, and English. The specific languages learned will differ significantly based on location and family practices.