Rendille interpreting and translation

Rendille, Samburu, Borana or Swahili?

A client described as Rendille by origin might speak Rendille, Samburu or both, so we check early, and we also ask whether they speak Swahili or Borana. For straightforward matters such as booking an appointment, Swahili may be workable; for asylum interviews, credibility assessments and detailed medical histories, the client's first language is far safer.

Remote interpreting by telephone or video is often the most practical way to work with a Rendille interpreter. Our telephone line runs day and night, every day, and video sessions take place through the SILA Linguists® video app or whatever conferencing tool you prefer. Pastoral life brings specialist vocabulary for livestock, kinship and seasonal movement that can matter in asylum or family cases, so a short briefing on the context helps the interpreter prepare. Face-to-face and consecutive interpreting can be arranged for community information sessions and research fieldwork, and a female or male interpreter is available on request.

Translation for Rendille speakers

Written Rendille uses the Latin alphabet and standard fonts, but its use is largely confined to religious and literacy materials. Our translators therefore explain modern administrative and medical terms clearly, and for community information we can produce recorded audio, which often reaches more people than print in pastoralist areas.

Kenyan official documents, from birth certificates to police clearance letters, are issued in English or Swahili. We provide certified translation from Swahili with a signed and dated statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as tribunals and colleges, and by HR departments, and we translate Rendille statements and recordings into English.

Transcription and LADO for northern Kenya

Humanitarian and development research in Marsabit regularly produces Rendille recordings. We transcribe them with time codes and translate them into English, labelling Samburu, Borana or Swahili passages. For asylum applicants, SILA Linguists® offers language analysis for determining origin (LADO).

Where we can help in Rendille

Our vetted, trained and qualified Rendille linguists can support asylum and immigration services, healthcare providers, humanitarian and development researchers and community information projects, including charities working with pastoralist families in northern Kenya. You have a single project team, vetted linguists and confidentiality under NDAs and UK GDPR, wherever your Rendille-speaking clients are.