Proto-East Nyanza speakers migrated into the
Mara region in 100 AD, with much of their population likely settling within the Tarime highlands (which has wetter lands than the comparatively dier lakeshore). They subsequently split into the Suguti and Mara branches around 300 AD. As the early East Nyanza speakers migrated into the Mara Region (and later, western kenya), they encountered
Southern Cushitic and
Kuliak peoples, whom they absorbed and were culturally influenced by. They were later also influenced by a now-extinct branch of southern Nilotic people who were migrating into the Mara Region from the north at the same time as the East Nyanza peoples. The early East Nyanza peoples were matrilineal, which aided them in absorbing
Kuliak,
Cushitic, and
Nilotic males into their societies. ==Classification==