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f) They were also looking for better lands for cultivation.

g) The migrated to satisfy their spirit of adventure.
Key notes for the teacher and students- @Helot 2012-2013 49
They began migrating from their cradleland in around 600AD. By 700AD, some kalenjin
groups like the Sirikwa were already occupying the rift valley.
Some were later pushed out of the Mt. elgon region by the incoming Bantu and plain
nilotes. Those that remained include the Bok, Bongomek and Kony. The Terik later
migrated to western Kenya and greatly borrowed from the Bantu, adopting a new name,
Tiriki.
The Nandi.
They were pushed out of the Mt. Elgon region between 1700 and 1800 by the incoming
Maasai.
The decline of the Maasai in the 19thc made them rise to become a formidable group that
conducted raids against their neighbours like the Abaluhyia and Luo.
Their power only declined due to colonization.
The Kipsigis
They are believed to have separated together with the Nandi from other kalenjin groups at
around Mt. Elgon region around AD1600. They moved south east to Teo, near Lake
Baringo. Due to the Maasai attacks, they moved westwards to Tambach where they
stayed for a long period. They later moved southwards to Rongai near Nakuru.
They only separated from the Nandi due to drought and the Maasai Raids on the Nandi.
The Kipsigis moved further south to Kericho while the Nandi moved to Aldai during the
2nd half of 18thc. The Kipsigis settled at Kipsigis Hills forming a strong community that
assimilated thelegendary Sirikwa and some Maasai and Abagusii groups. They were for a
long time allies of the Nandi.
What factors contributed to the Nandi and Kipsigis split during the mid 18 th
century.
a) Maasai attacks on the two communities forcing each group to find its own means of
Defence.
b) Drought which caused scattering in search of food and pasture.
c) Constant conflicts over the limited resources in the region leading to warfare and final
split.
Results of the Highland nilotes migration
a) It increased intercommunity conflicts in the region.
b) Some of the Kalenjin groups assimilated Bantu cultures while their culture was also
assimilated by other groups. The Terik for example borrowed many Bantu vocabularies
and customs.
c) They intermarried with other groups in the region, such as the Abagusii and the Luo.
d) Their migration increased trading activities in the region.
e) They displaced the people they came across e.g. the Abagusii and the Kwavi Maasai