The origins of the Babukusu people of Western Kenya have long been the subject of both speculation and myth. While some narratives are riddled with inaccuracies, the greatest loss lies in not knowing where we truly come from. This story seeks to trace the authentic lineage of the Babukusu and their earliest beginnings—rooted deep in time and migration.
The Founding Ancestor: Mundu of Esibakala
The great patriarch of the Babukusu is known as Mundu, a Bantu-speaking man who lived around 700 A.D. in Esibakala, located in the southern stretches of what is today Egypt. The land was fertile, nourished by the Nile, and ideal for livestock rearing and the cultivation of millet and eleusine.
Mundu had two sons: Kundu and Masaaba. Kundu, the darker-skinned elder, and Masaaba, lighter in complexion, began life in Esibakala before their father moved southwards to Esirende, near present-day Sudan, around 885 A.D. This migration was driven by drought and the growing pressure from Arab invaders. Esirende, a region of savannah wetlands, became their temporary home.
Diverging Paths: Kundu and Masaaba
Much like the biblical Esau and Jacob, the two sons had different callings—Kundu found joy in tending livestock while Masaaba was a passionate hunter. As they came of age, Mundu divided his herds between them. Kundu, the elder, married first and journeyed south-west in the direction of the setting sun. His travels took him towards Lake Kioga in Uganda, where he is believed to have settled and become known as Kintu—the forefather of the Baganda and Basoga communities.
Masaaba, on the other hand, stayed behind to care for their aging father. However, the life in Esirende was far from ideal. Constant threats from the Baima (Teso) and Nabibia (Ethiopian raiders) made survival difficult. Eventually, Mundu and Masaaba moved eastward to a region known as Enabiswa (land of anthills), and later to Etabasya, Enabukutu, and finally Embayi.
The Birth of a Nation: Masaaba and Namurwa
At Embayi, around 912 A.D., Masaaba met Namurwa, a Nilo-Hamitic Kalenjin woman who would become the matriarch of the Babukusu. Although cultural and social differences made their union controversial—especially since the Babukusu did not practice circumcision while the Barwa (Kalenjin) did—love prevailed. Namurwa insisted that Masaaba undergo circumcision to gain acceptance, and he agreed. After the ritual and the payment of bride price, the two were married.
Their union bore three children:
- Mwambu (“the one born in a cave”)
- Mubukusu
- Seela (their only daughter)
These children became symbolic bridges between two once-hostile communities.
The Rise of Mukisu: A Hero is Born
Mwambu would soon distinguish himself through an act of bravery. One afternoon, Barwa Bamasaai raiders stole cattle from his father. Unarmed, young Mwambu chased them alone, eventually catching up with the astonished rustlers. Amused by his courage, they gifted him a bull and called it inkishu (ordinary cattle in Maasai). When he returned home and shared his story, his father renamed him Mukisu—“the sharp and brave one.” Over time, the name Mwambu faded and Mukisu became his identity.
Family Expansion and the Great Rift
Masaaba had more children beyond the trio, and the Babayi (Mundu’s lineage) eventually migrated to Esengeli, known for its iron smelting (kamasengeli). It was here that ironmongery thrived—but also where tensions grew.
A quarrel during an ox-spiriting feast (lulwasako) between Mukisu’s and Mubukusu’s descendants escalated into deadly conflict. To prevent further bloodshed, the two brothers agreed to part ways. Around 925 A.D., Mubukusu led his clan eastward to the Silikwa Highlands, thus dividing the family into two main groups:
- Babukusu, who migrated further east
- Bakisu (Bagisu), who remained in what is now Uganda
The Bakisu, honoring Mukisu as the elder, retained the title Bamasaaba. However, both communities acknowledge a common ancestry through Masaaba.
Legacy and Living Memory
The story of the Babukusu is more than a tale of migration—it is a saga of love, struggle, unity, and resilience. From the highlands of Silikwa to the heart of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, the Babukusu continue to thrive, carrying forward the legacy of Masaaba, Namurwa, Mukisu, Mubukusu, and Seela.
More stories—of feuds, travels, alliances, and triumphs—remain untold, waiting to be discovered and preserved for future generations.
A story is only good until a better one is told…
Tribute to:
- Prof. Namusonge Sifuna
- Gideon Saulo Were – A History of Abaluhyia of Western Kenya (1967)
- Prof. Namulundah Florence – From Our Mothers’ Hearths: Bukusu Folktales and Proverbs (2005)
- Dr. F.E. Makila – An Outline History of Babukusu of Western Kenya (1978), father of Bukusu anthropology
