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Nilotic peoples

Nilotes are the second largest group of peoples in Kenya. They speak Nilo-Saharan languages and came to Eastern Africa by way of Southern Sudan, although their ultimate place of origin is believed to be West Africa from a population they share with the Bantus.

Kenyan Nilotes reside in the broad Rift Valley region of Kenya, and around Lake Victoria. They are comprised of three distinct groups:

•The River Lake Nilotes – the Luo, who live along Lake Victoria and practice fishing;

Plain Nilotes – who include the Maasai, Samburu, and Turkana- and practice nomadic pastoralism; the third group is of the

Highland Nilotes which comprises of the Kalenjin who live in Kenya’s Western Highlands. They practice both pastoralism and agriculture.

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