CHAPTER 5 - THE PEOPLES OF KENYA UPTO THE 19TH CENTURY

Evidence which proves that Kenya has been inhabited by humankind as far back as 2 million years ago or earlier.
 Tools attributed to Homo Habilis were found in Koobi Fora near Lake Turkana.  Hand axes,
cleavers and other tools attributed to Homo Erectus found at Olorgesaillie near Lake Magadi, Mtongwe near Mombasa, around lakes
Victoria and Turkana and at Kariandusi.  Tools associated with the Late Stone Age like the Crescent,
arrowheads, pottery, bone harpoons and ornamental egg shells found near Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Lukenya hills and Athi River.
 Microlith tools - axe heads, polished stones, stone bowels, platters and grinding stones have been discovered all over Kenya.
 Evidence of iron use found at Urewe near Ng’iya in Siaya and in Kwale at the coast.
 Animals such as cattle, sheep and goats were domesticated in Kenya during the Late Stone Age. Describe the lifestyle of early inhabitants
of Kenya.  Their language resembled that of the Khoisan.
 They originally were nomadic peoples.  They gathered fruits and
dug up tubers and roots to supplement their diet.  They used stone tools, bows and arrows.
 They fished in rivers and lakes, using harpoons.  They lived in rock shelters
and caves.  They made and used pottery.
 They buried or cremated their dead.  Their nomadic lifestyle made
them live in seasonal camps and temporary homes.  By the 7th century BC, they had learnt and practised
fishing. They started living in semi-permanent homes of rock shelters and caves.
 After acquiring the skill of food production, they settled down in more permanent homes and owned more materials such as grinding
stones, pestles and stone bowels, pots and calabashes.  They kept humpless long-horned cattle and grew food-crops
like sorghum and millet.  They passed on many customs such as circumcision, age-set organization, the taboo
against eating fish, etc. There was a lot of cultural exchange between them and the new comers. These early
inhabitants of Kenya may have been subdued by other stronger peoples, particularly the Bantu and the Nilotes through intermarriage,
assimilation and war. The communities that descended from early inhabitants of Kenya and much of
East Africa.  The Iraki and Burungi of Tanzania,
 The Boni, Dahallo and Sanye of the River Tana basin.  The Nguye and Okuro in
western Kenya. Some remnants of these early inhabitants speak the
languages of the groups near or with whom they live e.g. some speak Kikuyu while others speak Olmaa, the language of the Maasai. A
majority of them speak Kalenjin dialects. The Kalenjin refer to them as Okiek while the Maasai call them Dorobo. In western Kenya, the
Nguye and Okuro were totally assimilated by the Luo and Bantu groups. The races of people that make up modern Kenya. 
Africans  Europeans  Asians  Arabs Identify three main linguistic
groups into which African Kenyan communities are divided.  The Bantu,  The Nilotes,  The Cushites.
Of these groups, Bantu speakers form the largest group, followed by the Nilotes. The Cushites form the smallest.

THE CUSHITES
Describe two groups of the Kenyan Cushites.
 The Southern Cushites, who moved southwards and settled in the highlands and plains of Kenya and northern Tanzania. They were later
assimilated by the groups that found them in the region, such as the Iraki, Boni, Burungi, Nilotes and Bantu. In Kenya, the only
remaining Southern Cushites are the Dahallo, who live in the lower course of River Tana.
 The Eastern Cushites, who may have first settled in the Horn of Africa i.e. somewhere to the north of Kenya: either in Ethiopia or
Somalia after migrating from Arabia in 1000BC. They then migrated into Somalia and reached northern Kenya in 1000AD.

Identify Kenyan communities that make up the Eastern Cushites.

 The Borana,  The Somali,  The Oromo,  Gabra,  The Rendille,  The Burji.
The Eastern Cushites migrated into Kenya much later than the Southern Cushites.

Explain/trace the migration and settlement of the Oromo and Borana into Kenya.
a) The Oromo
They arrived in Kenya in the 16th century and settled on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana. They tried to move eastwards but were
stopped by the Somali. They later moved south-eastwards and reached the coast in around 1600AD. In the area around Shungwaya, they
confronted and forced the Mijikenda and Pokomo to leave. They occupied Malindi and Kilifi. Even before their arrival in Kenya, the
Oromo had conflicts with the Somali, which continued up to early 20th century when both signed an agreement by which they settled in
their present homeland. Today, the Oromo are found on the southern part of the river Tana and are neighbours to the Pokomo.

b) The Borana
The Borana, who are part of the Oromo-speaking people of southern Ethiopia, migrated into Kenya in the last quarter of the 19th and the
first quarter of the 20th century. They were running away from the heavy taxation and rule of Menelik II. They spread into Kenya and
settled in Wajir, Marsabit and Moyale. About 1000AD, more Borana groups migrated into present-day Kenya from Somalia due to war
between Somali nationalists and British colonialists.

c) The Somali
The Somali were living in Mogadishu by the 10th century AD. Around that time, they began to move southwards, probably because the
Oromo presented a threat or because they were looking for pasture, since they were nomadic pastoralists. Between the 12th and 14th
centuries AD, many of the Somali converted to Islam and established the Ajuran state near Mogadishu. By the 17th century, the Somali
pushed the Oromo out of their traditional homeland near river Juba. The Oromo responded by migrating into Kenya.

Reasons for migration and settlement of the Cushites into Kenya in the pre-colonial period.
 Family feuds (internal rivalry) back in their original homeland.
 Population increase or pressure in their area of origin.
 Search for better pastures for their livestock.
 Outbreak of diseases in their area of origin, which affected people and livestock.
 Famine and drought in their original home-area.
 Hostility and attacks by the neighbouring communities, such as the Somali.
 The spirit of adventure, especially the Eastern Cushites.
 Heavy taxation by the rulers of the areas they originally lived in, especially Menelik II.

Effects/results of migration and settlement of the Cushites into Kenya

 High mortality (death) rate due to fighting among various groups during migration e.g. the Somali and Oromo frequently engaged in
warfare, in the process of which many people were killed.
 Displacement - As new groups came into Kenya, they pushed out others e.g. in their southward movement in the 16th century AD, the
Oromo forced the Mijikenda and Pokomo out of Shungwaya.
 Exchange of cultural practices - Some of the communities interacted and formed alliances e.g. the Samburu and the Rendille formed an
alliance against the Turkana.
 Increased population as various peoples migrated into Kenya.
 Introduction of new cultural practices in Kenya e.g. the taboo against fish consumption among some Bantu speakers has been traced to
the Cushites. Other include circumcision and the age-set system.
 Intermarriage e.g. between the Pokomo and the Borana.
 Increased trading activities in Kenya. For instance, by the 19th century, they were trading with the Samburu and Maasai.
 Population redistribution in Kenya. For example, the Mijikenda were scattered at and from Shungwaya and had to change their course of
migration.
 They adopted mixed farming methods, which they got from the Bantu - Pokomo.
 They converted to Islam, which they spread among their neighbours.

TH BANTU
ORIGIN
The term Bantu refers to a group of people who speak related languages. They constitute the largest language group in Africa and occupy
two thirds of the sub-Saharan region.
Trace the origin of the Bantu
The original homeland of the Bantu was between Eastern Nigeria and the Cameroon highlands. They moved from Cameroon through the
Congo forest into the lake region of East Africa, Zambia and Shaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They then spread into
East, Central and Southern Africa. Due to their size and strength, they managed to conquer and now occupy two thirds of sub-Saharan
Africa. They form the majority of Kenya’s population.

Bantu Migration
Bantu migration was slow and gradual, involving small groups at a time. Around 500BC, they were living in the Congo forest, which was
a major dispersal point from where they began to migrate. Their movement was in four major waves, two of which led to their settlement
in Kenya.

Describe four major waves of Bantu migration into East Africa.

 One group moved South-Eastwards through the area west of Lake Victoria, which became the second dispersal point and from where
some groups, especially the Western Bantu, passed through present-day Uganda and eventually settled in Western Kenya from 1000AD as
others, such as the Banyoro and Baganda settled in Uganda.
 Another group moved and entered East Africa at a point south of lake Victoria and proceeded Eastwards across Northern Tanzania up
to the area between Taita hills and Mount Kilimanjaro. At this point, some Bantu groups such as the Sukuma, Kuria, Nyamwezi and
Haya were left in Tanzania.
 Another group proceeded northwards from the area between Taita hills and Mount Kilimanjaro up to Shungwaya.
 Last group proceeded from Shungwaya up to the Kenyan coast who became to be referred to as the Eastern Bantus.

Identify the dispersal points through which the Bantu migrated from and settled in various areas.
The Bantu migrated from and settled into various places through four major dispersal points, namely:
 The Congo forest
 The area west of Lake Victoria,
 The area between Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro,
 Shungwaya.

State the reasons for the migration and settlement of the Bantu into Kenya.
 Population pressure due to food production, enabled by their knowledge in ironworking, with which they made and used better farm
implements.
 Their might and strength due to better weapons and farm tools, which enabled them to easily fight and defeat other people and to clear
new lands for agriculture.
 Internal pressure (family or clan rivalry).
 Natural calamities such as famine, drought etc.
 Search for new farmland.
 The spirit of adventure i.e. their desire to taste life in new lands.
 Invasions and frequent attacks by warring neighbours.
 Diseases and epidemics, which affected both people and livestock.

Migration & Settlement of the Bantu into Kenya

Describe two main groups in which the Bantu were divided as they migrated into Kenya.
 The Western Bantu, who were part of the first wave of migrants that moved south-eastwards from the Congo forest through the area
west of Lake Victoria, passing through present-day Uganda, where some of them settled as others proceeded to and settled in Western
Kenya from 1000AD.
 The Eastern Bantu i.e. Bantu-speaking groups that occupy the area between the Rift Valley and coastal Kenya, who entered Kenya after
migrating eastwards across northern Tanzania. They had begun to settle in Kenya by 1000AD and may have followed different directions
to get to their present homeland.
The Western Bantu include:  Abagusii,  Abaluhyia,  Abasuba,  Abakuria.
The Eastern Bantu include:  The Mijikenda,  The Pokomo,  The Taita,  Agikuyu,  Ameru,  Akamba,  Aembu.
A. The Western Bantu
Explain the migration and settlement of Abagusii, Abakuria and Abasuba into Kenya.
i) Abagusii
Abagusii may have originated from a place known to them as Misri, under their ruler and ancestor called Kwitu. From Misri, Abagusii
and some Abaluhyia groups migrated to the Mount Elgon region where they lived for several generations. Around 1500AD, Abagusii,
Abakuria and a section of Abalogoli migrated down Nzoia river valley and settled at Goye in Yimbo and near Ramogi hill and other areas
on the eastern shores of Lake Victoria. Due to arrival of Luo ancestors in the lake region around 1550AD, Abagusii were pushed to Alego,
Kisumu, Sakwa and Asembo areas. Shortly after 1600AD, drought forced Abagusii to migrate and settle in the Kano plains. Their farther
migration eastwards brought them into conflicts with the Kipsigis. Because of this, they moved to the fertile Kisii highlands and other
parts of their present homeland such as Kitutu, South Mugirango and others. In spite of conflicts with the Luo, Maasai and Kipsigis,
Abagusii exhibited and practised good interaction, due to which they intermarried, traded and had other forms of exchange with these
communities.

ii) Abakuria
Abakuria live in south Nyanza. Their traditions indicate that they are related to the Abalogoli of Abaluhyia and Abagusii too. They also
trace their origin to the Mount Elgon region and maintain that they came from a place called Misri. Abakuria may have migrated
alongside Abagusii up to 1500AD when they took their separate direction. They settled briefly around the shores of Lake Victoria, where
they interacted with the Luo and the Southern Cushites. Abakuria may have picked up the practice of circumcision and Age-set
organization from the Southern Cushites. Some of the Kuria clans may have come from northern Tanzania. By 1800AD, Abakuria had all
settled in south Nyanza, where they again met and continued interacting with Abagusii. Indeed, some clans of Abagusii originally settled
in Kuria territory in the second half of the 18th century.

iii) Abasuba
Abasuba occupy Mfangano and Rusinga islands on Lake Victoria, where they settled from 1750AD, after arriving as refugees fleeing from
Buganda. Other Suba people were displaced by the incoming Luo. Their migration was mainly triggered by fighting in Buganda and
Busoga, following the assassination of King of Buganda called Kyabbagu by some of his children. As a result of the assassination, there
was a struggle for succession to the throne, which made some of the groups around Lake Victoria to flee. In their migration from Busoga
and Buganda, most of the Suba spoke either Luganda or Lusoga. The Suba later interacted with the Luo as they entered Kenya, although
they at first saw the Luo as a threat to them. They traded and intermarried with the Luo among other practices. Some settled at Gwasi
and Kaksingiri in later years. They adopted the social customs of the Luo. Today, most Abasuba have adopted Luo culture and have
almost lost their original language and way of life.

iv) Abaluhyia
Luhyia oral tradition traces their origin to an area called Misri. Historical evidence shows that Abaluhyia resulted from intermarriage
between various ethnic groups in the course of their migration into Kenya. Buluhyia is an area in which Nilotes, Bantu and some Cushites
interacted. Luhyia migration and settlement into Kenya started around 300AD. Their most recent ancestors spread from eastern Uganda
from around 1300AD. Most of them may have originated from the mount Elgon region and then settled in Bukhayo, Marama, Tiriki,
Bunyore, Wanga, Maragoli, Marachi, Kisa, Samia, Idakho, Isukha, Bungoma and other Bukusu areas, Bunyala, Busonga, etc. As they
migrated, they assimilated other groups, such as the southern and eastern Cushites as well as Southern Nilotes.
Between 1550-1750AD, Luhyia society began to take shape. By 1883, Abaluhyia had fully emerged as a community. Abaluhyia interacted
with Nilotic speakers such as the Maasai, Kalenjin and Luo, which led to a lot of cultural exchange. This perhaps explains why there
exists so many clans and dialects among Abaluhyia. In fact, the term Luhyia means Family. Abaluhyia means People of the Family or
Family-people.

Explain how Luhyia interaction with Nilotic speakers facilitated cultural exchange.
 Some Luhyia clans such as Abashimuli of the Idakho were formed.
 Some Abaluhyia picked up and started speaking the languages of the people they interacted with. This is more so with the Marachi, Kisa
and Samia, who started speaking the Luo language. On the other hand, the people with whom Abaluhyia interacted adopted Luhyia
dialects.
 From the Kalenjin, the Luhyia learnt cattle keeping and age-set organization.
 Some such as the Wanga bought or borrowed military services from the Maasai, who also had entered Luhyia territory.
 Sharing of practices, particularly in the border region resulted e.g. Southern Luhyialand, especially Bunyala, Samia and Busonga
(Usonga) have been heavily influenced by the Luo due to sharing of language and rituals, such as removal of teeth.
Dialects that constitute Luhyia community
Eighteen major dialects constitute Abaluhyia. These are:
 Tiriki,  Maragoli,  Isukha,  Idaho,  Banyore,  Kisa,  Batsotso,  Marama,  Wanga,
 Banyala,  Batura,  Kabarasi,  Bukusu,  Tachoni,  Khayo,  Marachi,  Basonga,  Samia.
Each of these dialects consists of several clans and tended to exist independently, though remotely connected ties to the rest of Abaluhyia.
In fact, Abaluhyia were constituted as a community in 1947, when the British colonial government administered all these Luhyia dialects
as a single entity.

Trace the migration and settlement of the Wanga into Kenya.

The Wanga Kingdom was founded by the Bahima, who had migrated from western Uganda and who settled at Imanga hills under their
King: Muhima, who was referred to by the title Nabongo. Between 1544 and 1652, Nabongo Muhima founded the Hima dynasty by
uniting the different clans that had settled at Imanga. Shortly after 1652, the Hima dynasty was replaced by the Bashitsetse dynasty
under their ruler called Wanga. It was after this ruler (Wanga) that the Kingdom was later named, to become Abawanga or Bawanga
(people of Wanga). In most cases, the community is referred to just by the name Wanga. The Bashitsetse established a more centralized
system of government.
During the reign of Nabongo Wamukoya, a group rebelled and formed a parallel kingdom known as Wanga Mukulu of Kweyu. During
Nabongo Mumia’s time, Wanga Mukulu was ruled by Nabongo Sakwa. The Abawanga suffered attacks from their neighbours. To resist
these attacks, Nabongo had to seek assistance from the Europeans. They got assistance from General Hobley.
The British expanded the Wanga traditional rule and made Nabongo a Paramount Chief. As a Paramount Chief, Nabongo Mumia ruled
what was known as Eastern Uganda, which include the present Nyanza and Western provinces and parts of Rift Valley (Turkana, Uasin
Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Bomet, Kericho, Bureti, Baringo, West Pokot, Keiyo, Marakwet and Nakuru) up to Mai Mahiu.
Through Mumia, the British assisted the Abawanga to fight their enemies e.g. the Ababukusu, Luo, and Iteso. Mumia died in 1949.

B. The Eastern Bantu

The Eastern Bantu are Bantu-speaking groups that occupy the area between the Rift Valley and Coastal Kenya.
Identify the communities that belong to the Eastern Bantu.
 The Mijikenda,  The Pokomo,  The Taita,  The Agikuyu,  The Ameru,  The Akamba  The Aembu.
Identify two main classifications of the Eastern Bantu.  The Coastal Bantu.  The Highland Bantu.
Name the communities that belong to:
The Coastal Bantu include:  The Mijikenda  The Pokomo  The Taita.
The Highland Bantu include:  The Akamba  Agikuyu  Ameru  Aembu and Mbeere.
a) The Coastal Bantu
Trace/explain the origin of the Coastal Bantu.
 They probably were the first Bantu people to settle in Kenya.
 Their ancestors may have moved from a dispersal point west of Lake Victoria through northern Tanzania to the area between Taita hills
and Mount Kilimanjaro.
 Others such as the Mijikenda moved towards the coast, while the Chagga of Tanzania settled to the south. The Taita remained on the
hills as the Mijikenda and other groups moved along the coast up to Shungwaya, which may have been somewhere between rivers Juba and
Tana. The present highland Bantu moved westwards and eventually occupied their present home areas.
 The Shungwaya dispersal mainly resulted from the southward expansion of the Oromo by 1600AD. The Mijikenda groups started settling
in their present home areas in the course of 1700AD. By the beginning of the 19th century, they had settled in their present homeland. The
Pokomo on the other hand moved from Shungwaya, following the river Tana. Here, they interacted with Cushites such as the Oromo and
the Somali.

i) The Mijikenda
Mijikenda is a Kiswahili word that means nine clans. The Mijikenda comprise the nine communities that originally inhabited the nine
settlements called Kaya in the immediate coastal hinterland.
 The Giriama,  Kauma,  Chonyi,  Kambe,  Ribe,  Jibana,  Rabai,  Duruma,  Digo.
Migration and settlement of the Mijikenda into Kenya
The Mijikenda trace their point of origin to Shungwaya, which in Bantu means “To be driven away”. From Shungwaya, the Bantu were
forced to move southwards by the Oromo, who also stopped their northward migration around the 16th century AD. The Somali also
joined the Oromo in forcing the Mijikenda out of Shungwaya, from where the Mijikenda moved in small groups, which explains why they
settled in different places and why today the Mijikenda exist and are identified by their small groups or clans. The Mijikenda settled in
fortified villages, just inland from the coast. Each of the nine groups settled in their own separate ridges, which are commonly referred to
as Kaya, a word that means ‘’towns‟. The term Mijikenda itself expresses that the community consists of nine related groups. Each Kaya
was fortified with tree trunks. Even after settling in their present homeland, their main enemies were the Oromo and the Somali.
By the 19th century, the Mijikenda had interacted and established themselves as middlemen in the Long Distance trade between the
Akamba and the Waswahili at the coast.

ii) The Pokomo

Ancestors of the Pokomo lived with those of the Mijikenda at Shungwaya, but the Pokomo moved southwards and settled along river
Tana, where they interacted with Cushitic communities. Population pressure and Oromo attacks were the main reasons for Pokomo
movement from Shungwaya.

iii) The Taita

Name the three hills inhabited by the Taita.
 Mangea hill, where they first settled.  Davida,  Sagalla,  Kisigan.
Trace/analyse migration and settlement of the Taita into Kenya.
The Taita are a people of mixed origin, though most of them trace their origin to Shungwaya. They first settled on Mangea hill in the 16th
century, from where they migrated to their present home areas. They live on three hills i.e. Davida, Sagalla and Kisigan.

Identify Taita clans and their origins.

According to their oral tradition, Taita clans are of the following origins:
 The Wasadu, who originated from the Oromo.
 The Wanyanya, who originated from the Maasai, Oromo and Akamba.
 The Wanya, who originated from the Mijikenda, Agikuyu and Shambala.
 The Shambala, who originated from Tanzania.
 The Wasann, who originated from the Pokomo, Akamba and Shambala.
 The Wasasadu, who originated from the Pare in Tanzania.
 The Waikumi, who originated from the Maasai and Akamba.
 These clans emerged as a people after many years of interaction.

b) The Highland Bantu

From the dispersal at Shungwaya, the Highland (Mount Kenya) Bantu moved westwards and occupied the areas that eventually became
their present homeland.
i) The Akamba
Analyse/discuss migration and settlement of the Akamba into Kenya.
The Akamba trace their origin to the area around Mount Kilimanjaro, from where their ancestors migrated to the great bend of the river
Tana. They then moved to Taita hills and finally reached Tsavo west. Around mid-15th century AD, the Akamba followed the eastern
banks of river Athi, from where one group moved across the Athi to Ulu. Due to Oromo attacks, another group of the Akamba moved
south to the Galana River and settled in the region around Chyulu hills north of Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to drought in the Chyulu area,
some Akamba migrated and settled in the Mbooni hills near Machakos around mid-16th century.
Soon, due to population increase, some Akamba migrated farther to Iveti, Kilungu, Masaku and Makueni.
In the course of their migration and settlement, the Akamba met and interacted with the Agikuyu.
In what ways was Akamba migration and settlement influenced by the environment?
 Those in Mbooni region took up agriculture due to soil fertility and ample rainfall in the area.
 The Akamba who moved to drier areas like Chyulu hills became hunters.
 Others moved to Kitui and adopted pastoralism and hunting. It is this group that later participated in the Long Distance trade by
providing ivory and slaves to the coastal traders in the 19th century.

In what ways did the Akamba interact with the Agikuyu in the course of Akamba migration and settlement into Kenya?
 They exchanged trade items.
 They intermarried.
 They adopted cultural aspects like language and dressing.
 They raided and fought each other.
 They began sporting activities such as wrestling and archery.

ii) The Ameru

Name the dialects that constitute/make up the Ameru.
 The Tigania,  Igembe,  Imenti,  Igoji,  Chuka,  Tharaka,  Muthambi,  Muimbi.

Migration and settlement of the Ameru into Kenya.

The Ameru claim a place called Mbwa, which is somewhere at the coast (probably Manda island) as their area of origin. However,
historians believe that this tradition of Mbwa fits very well with Bantu dispersal from Shungwaya. By late 15th century, ancestors of the
Ameru had begun arriving in Meru. Ameru migration from the coast was mainly due to Oromo pressure. From Shungwaya, the Ameru
moved westwards along the river Tana and pushed into Igembe and Tigania regions. Around 1400AD, the Ameru and other Mount Kenya
groups were living as hunters and pastoralists.
 They moved farther into the interior, crossing river Tana. Some, especially the Tharaka, finally settled to the east of River Tana as others
such as the Chuka, Muimbi, Imenti, Tigania and Igembe settled in the area west of the River Tana.
 The Ameru and Agikuyu are believed to have initially migrated as one group until the 15th and 16th centuries, when the Agikuyu took
their separate direction. The traditions of the two groups and those of the Aembu and Mbeere seem to confirm this view.
 Aembu and Mbeere ancestors are believed to have initially migrated with those of the Ameru and Agikuyu from the Kilimanjaro area
before going their separate way.
 By 1500, the Mbeere had settled in their present homeland. However, the Aembu crossed River Thuci and moved north-westwards to the
area east of Mount Kenya, where they settled and interacted with the Athi and Gumba, who they later assimilated and from who they
learnt the art of bee keeping, ironworking and circumcision.

iii) The Agikuyu

The Agikuyu are the largest population of all the Eastern Bantu. They inhabit the Central province of Kenya.
Describe two legends or myths that refer to Gikuyu origin.
 That which presents the Agikuyu as having originated from Mukurwe Wa Gathanga, where their ancestors (Gikuyu and his wife
Mumbi) were settled after God created them. According to this legend, Gikuyu and Mumbi begat nine daughters, who married and
mothered the nine clans of the present Agikuyu.
 That which states that the Agikuyu may have descended from one of the four sons of a Mbeere man, the other three of which may have
mothered the Akamba, Athi and Maasai.

Discuss/analyse migration and settlement of the Agikuyu into Kenya.

By 1200AD, The Bantu had already settled in the Central province of Kenya. However, the original inhabitants of the area were hunter-
gatherers, such as the Athi (Dorobo) and the Gumba. These may have been the remnants of the original inhabitants. The Athi and the
Gumba interacted with the Agikuyu, who later assimilated them. The Agikuyu may have moved south-west from the coast around
1400AD, probably to avoid hostile neighbours, such as the Oromo. They also may have moved in search for cultivable land. They followed
the Tana River.
As they moved, some groups broke off and settled in different places. Those who settled in the east became the Tharaka while those who
settled in the south-west became the Mbeere. They had arrived and settled in Mbeere and Chuka from a northern direction by the 16th
century AD. One group proceeded to the confluence of the Tana and Thika rivers by the beginning of the 18th century. This was the group
of Gikuyu ancestors that is associated with the Mukurwe Wa Gathanga tradition in Murang’a. The Agikuyu later moved to the Mweya
plains, where they were joined by the Akamba and the Thagicu. Farther expansion of the Agikuyu led to the displacement of the Athi and
Gumba, some of who were assimilated while others ran into the Nyandarua and Mount Kenya forests.
In the first half of the 19th century, the Agikuyu once more migrated to Othaya and Aguthi. They also moved north-eastwards to Mathira
and Tetu in Nyeri. They spread and settled in different parts of Central province and reached as far as Kiambu and Nyandarua. Their
settlement in Kiambu and Nyandarua was interrupted by the coming of the Europeans in the 19th century. However, they were still
migrating by early 20th century.
As they migrated, the Agikuyu borrowed ideas from the Cushites, the Maasai, the Gumba and Athi. The Gumba and Athi were later
together known as the Okiek.
The Maasai seriously opposed or resisted Agikuyu invasion. However, the Athi welcomed and were on good terms with the Agikuyu. The
Agikuyu borrowed many economic and social aspects from the Athi, e.g. ironworking, circumcision, clitoridectomy (female circumcision)
and some age-set features.

Discuss the effects of Bantu migration and settlement into Kenya.

 Increased population in the regions where they settled.
 Spread of ironworking to other parts of Kenya. The skill reached other communities, such as the Luo.
 Increased intercommunal conflicts e.g. they fought with the Oromo at the coast, the Maasai in the Rift Valley and the Luo near Lake
Victoria.
 More trading activities as the Bantu exchanged iron products with other communities. For example, Abagusii gave iron products to the
Luo in return for baskets.
 Increased cultural interaction and exchange e.g. many Bantu groups assimilated the Southern Cushites as some Bantu were assimilated
by Nilotes.
 Spread of agricultural practices in Kenya e.g. the Kwavi Maasai adopted cultivation.
 Population redistribution e.g. the Dorobo moved to forested areas.
 Displacement of some communities e.g. Abagusii were displaced by the Luo in the Kano plains. Some Eastern Cushites were displaced by
the Agikuyu from parts of central Kenya.
 Intermarriage e.g. Abaluhyia and Abagusii intermarried with the Maasai, Kalenjin and Luo.
 Exchange of knowledge and skills e.g. many Bantu adopted the Age-set system and the practice of circumcision from the southern
Cushites.