Tugen

Tugen is a term used for several related topics in Kenya, including a geographic region in the Rift Valley, an indigenous ethnic group, and the language spoken by that community. The name is most often associated with the Tugen Hills and the communities living in and around western Kenya.

Tugen Hills is a geologically and paleontologically significant region located in Baringo County, on the western rim of the Kenyan Rift Valley. The hills feature volcanic formations and fossil-rich sites that have contributed to understanding early hominin evolution. In 2000, the hominin species Orrorin tugenensis was discovered at the Tugen Hills by Brigitte Senut and Martin Pickford, dating to about six million years ago and making the site a notable reference in human origins research.

The Tugen people are a Nilotic-speaking community residing primarily in Baringo County and neighboring areas of western Kenya. They are generally considered part of the broader Kalenjin ethnolinguistic grouping and have traditional livelihoods that include farming, herding, and trade. The Tugen languages form a branch within the Nilotic language family, with local varieties spoken alongside national languages such as Swahili and English.

In summary, Tugen denotes a geographic region with important paleontological sites and a cultural community with a distinct linguistic identity. The term reflects both the ancient natural history of the Rift Valley and the ongoing cultural dynamics of western Kenya.