The Origin of Tula Clans of Marakwet Peoples of Kenya: A Preliminary Study

Purpose: This paper presents a preliminary study of the Tula (Tulin) clans of the Marakwet, employing a clan-based methodology to reconstruct pre-colonial Kalenjin history. It examines migratory paths, social organization, and cultural practices of these clans, arguing for their roots in the broader Kalenjin "Misri" origin legend and a close association with the historical Sirikwa. Methodology: The research is based on oral interviews with elders from villages including Kwenoi, Katemuge, and Ketut, using a clan-based approach that involves identifying distinct clans and their totems, collecting clan-specific oral narratives, and triangulating oral evidence with existing scholarly literature. Findings: The findings document clan subdivisions (Kipkirwon, Kaptul, Kasagur), totemic identity (reel/cheptibi – jackal), and significant historical interactions with groups like the Talai and minority communities (Mer, Sainak). The study also records the clans' expertise in constructing stone houses and water furrows, suggesting a direct link to Sirikwa material culture. Originality/Value: The paper concludes by recommending further ethnographic and archaeological research to validate the claim that these Tula clans are cultural and historical remnants of the Sirikwa. This study provides a crucial foundation for re-evaluating the Sirikwa not as a vanished people, but as a socio-cultural identity absorbed into larger Kalenjin clan structures.