Sheng has baffled many outsiders due to its dynamic nature. Every generation comes up with new words and phrases that render those of yesterday irrelevant. If you move out of Eastlands, Nairobi, say for 2 years or so, believe you me when you come back the language will have changed to an extent you’ll have a hard time keeping up with conversations.
Earlier linguistic scholars predicted a premature death for the tongue, but it has defied the test of time. Growing to become the unofficial lingo of Kenyan ghettoes. Scholars have written numerous papers about it, yet, they haven’t been able to state with finality whether it is vernacular, pidgin, creole, standard, classical, or lingua franca.
Conversions in Facebook pages where cops, going by the monikers Hessy wa Kayole, Hessy wa Dandora etc, have taken the war against crime (precipitated by the likes of Gaza and Mauki crime families) in Eastlando have many bewildered. And that is the basis of sheng, to keep those who don’t understand the language out of the convos in Kayole Crime Free, Dandora Crime Free, Dandora Love People, Eastlando Crime Free, Kayole My Kingdom: Together We Can Make It A Safe Place. Here are latest sheng words you are likely to encounter in the groups and their definitions.
Arif – friend
Banka – Crib/House
Bitson – Beating
Bronchez/breathe – brother
Chuom – Alley
Father/fathela – father
Gafe – Cigarette
Gendi – Matatu
Gwangi/Stepa/Dingo – Gangster
Hasapa – Here
Jaba – Khat
Kushandwa – To get shot
Lamba lolo – Lick lollipop, have oral sex
Mambang’a/Mavedi – Cops
Mathe/mukuru/mokoro – mother
Maunenge/Kinenge – Hunger pangs
Mauru – Bad boy/girl
Maweng – Money
Mbekse – Two
Mble/Mbleina/Fafude – Fool
Mbogi – Group/Crew
Mbulu – T.V.
Mitiech – Hoods
Mjulubeng – Manhood
Moshatha – Upcountry
Ndeng’a/Chrome/Itoka – Gun
Nganya – Matatu
Ngiavati – Chapati
Ngono – Cart
Nguna – chic/girl
Ngwai – Weed/marijuana
Nyai/Pona – Steal
Nyuria – Die
Palito – radio
Pinchi – Pick pocket
Pori – Wallet/Pocket
Rada – Understand/be alert
Riba – story
Ridhe – Bullet
Rombosa – Dance
Shandwa – Get shot
Sistare/mtasis – sister
Tenje – Phone/radio
Tonje – Laptop
Tutu – Coward
Read more new sheng words and their meanings
P.S: Note that sheng differs slightly from hood to hood.
Feel free to add more that I haven’t included or offer correction where wrong.