Senecio keniensis and S. brassica) is one of the giant groundsels endemic the higher altitudes of Mount Kenya.

[4][5] Senecio keniensis makes its home mostly in the lower alpine or moorland zone located at altitudes of 2,900 metres (9,500 ft) to 3,800 metres (12,500 ft)[4][5] that can be characterized by high soil moisture, a thick humus layer, similar terrain, and not a lot of different species present.

The upper alpine zone, 3,800 metres (12,500 ft) to 4,500 metres (14,800 ft), is more topographically diverse, and contains a more varied flora, including the giant rosette plants Lobelia telekii and L. keniensis, Senecio keniodendron and Carduus spp.. S. keniensis can be found in both the lower and upper alpine zone,[11] although it is less common above 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) where it can regularly hybridise with S.

[4][12] S. keniensis has a history which includes some confusion between it and other species from other genus which belongs to a different family.

There was a mix-up in some of the materials that were collected that united the leaf of Lobelia gregoriana with the inflorescence of S. keniensis.