English Names for Common Kenyan Foods (Vegetables, Grains & Local Dishes Explained

Many Kenyans grow up enjoying delicious traditional foods—but when it comes to their English names, there’s often confusion. From sukuma wiki being mistaken for kale to nduma being called arrowroots, these mix-ups are very common.

In this guide, we break down the correct English names for popular Kenyan foods, helping students, travelers, food bloggers, and diaspora communities better understand local cuisine.

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Food and Beverage

Kenyan Vegetables and Their English Names

1. Sukuma Wiki – Collard Greens

Often mistaken for kale, sukuma wiki is actually collard greens. While both belong to the Brassica oleracea family, they are different varieties.
What most Kenyans eat daily is collard greens not kale.

2. “Spinach” – Swiss Chard

In Kenya, what is commonly called spinach is actually Swiss chard (Green Chard).
True spinach is a completely different plant, though the naming confusion exists even in countries like South Africa.

3. Terere – Amaranth Leaves

Terere refers to amaranth leaves, a highly nutritious vegetable also grown for grains.
It may also be called pigweed in some regions.

4. Managu – African Nightshade

Managu is known in English as African nightshade (or black nightshade).
It’s widely consumed across Kenya and has different local names like:

• Osuga (Luo)
• Namasaka (Luhya)
• Mnavu (Swahili)

🌿 Other Popular Kenyan Vegetables

• Sagaa / Saget – Spider Plant
• Mrenda / Murere – Jute Mallow
• Kunde Mboga – Cowpea Leaves
• Nduma – Taro (NOT arrowroots, though often confused)
• Pilipili – Chili Pepper
• Pilipili Hoho – Bell Pepper (Capsicum)
• Mito / Mitoo – Slender Leaf (Crotalaria)
• Kahurura – Fig-Leaf Gourd Leaves
• Minji – Green Peas
• Miciri – French Beans

🌿 Common Kenyan Herbs

• Dhania (Dania) – Coriander
  Also known globally as cilantro or Chinese parsley.

🫘 Pulses and Legumes in Kenya

Kenyan cuisine heavily relies on protein-rich legumes. Here are their correct English names:

• Ndengu – Green Grams (Mung Beans)
• Njahi – Dolichos Beans (Lablab Beans)
• Kunde – Cowpeas
• Mbaazi – Pigeon Peas
• Kamande – Lentils
• Kathika – Yellow Beans
• Maharagwe Meusi – Black Beans

🌾 Kenyan Grains and Cereals

• Wimbi – Finger Millet
• Mtama – Sorghum
• Mawele – Pearl Millet (often called Bullrush Millet)

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash