The Journey of Babukusu to their current settlements

According to the Bukusu folklore, the Babukusu were born in Ebung'onelo Ebukabilo wa Wananyanga wa Wanakhupa. This must be somewhere in Egypt. From here, they moved to Esituluku, our forefathers then moved to Esibakala, then to Silikwa (Lihraw argues that Babukusu were never in Silikwa), then to Emuyekhe, then to Nasaka before moving to Lokitaung". From here, they moved to Silongo sya Wabutubile, then to Sengeli (Sengwer--it must be somewhere around Cherangany') before proceeding to Liukha. Our ancestors then proceeded to Ekukumai before making their way to Nabiswa then to Ng'enye (Neng'eng'e) then to Ndare, then to Matulo and then to Katacheng'wala. Our fathers then made their way to Bwake (not the Bwake in Cherangany or that in Nalondo-Bwake is an old Bukusu village name) then to Sipi in Uganda before proceeding to Simo. From Simo, our fathers moved to Yembe, then to Nalondo, then to Nabukimbi, then to Solokho. You realize that at this point they were in Uganda. From Solokho, our forefathers went to Emafuta, then Namarare, then to Nangilima before they made their way to Napongo and later to Mbale in Bugishu. From here, they proceeded to Ebukai, and by this time, they were not referred to as Babukusu. They were called Bambai. 

While in Ebukai, they traded with Abang'ale, who must have been blacksmiths considering the kind of goods they brought to our fathers. At this point, Malaba son of Sioka (sometimes referred to as Nasiyoka) was the leader. The Bang'ale brought hoes and other metallic objects and traded them with cattle (Babukusu have always been cattle rearers). The Bang'ale first came under the leadership of Itolobi, who brought hoes and Malaba asked him, "Bukusi sina?", translated to mean, "How much/which price?". Itolobi demanded for one cow. Later, Itolobi referred Wabwile to our forefathers, and Malaba again asked him, "Bukusi sina?" and Wabwile demanded two cows. The trade continued for many years until the Basamia Bang'ale baptized our forefathers Abandu bo obukusu (directly translated to people of price). The name evolved to Aboobukusu before it finally became Babukusu. So, the claim by the likes of Lihraw that the name Bukusu was coined in the early 90s is unfounded. 

From here Malaba took the Babukusu to Silangilile, then to Rongoro, where he died and was replaced by the very famous Maina wa Nalukale from the clan of Batukwika Bakitang'a. He took his people to Mulukhonge then to Bukusu.