West Pokot County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. Its capital and largest town is

Kapenguria Kapenguria is a town lying north east of Kitale on the A1 road in Kenya. Kapenguria is capital of the West Pokot County. Kapenguria forms a municipality with an urban population of 13,000 and a total population of 56,000 (1999 census). Kapenguria ...

. The county covers an area of approximately 9,169.4 square kilometers and stretches a distance of 132 kilometers from North to South. West Pokot County is bordered to the north by

Turkana County Turkana County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is Kenya's largest county by land area (followed by Marsabit County), and also its northwesternmost. It is bordered by the countries of Uganda to the west; South Sudan ...

, to the east by

Baringo County Baringo County is one of the 47 counties in Kenya. It is located in the former Rift Valley Province. Its headquarters and largest town is Kabarnet. The county is home to Lake Baringo. Geographical location Baringo bounded by Turkana County and ...

, to the southeast by

Elgeyo-Marakwet County Elgeyo-Marakwet County is one of Kenya's 47 counties. Elgeyo Marakwet County is located in the former Rift Valley Province. Its capital and largest town is Iten. It borders the counties of West Pokot to the north, Baringo County to the east, so ...

, to the south by Trans Nzoia County and to the west by

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

. According to the 2019 census, the county has a population of 621,241. The county is home to

Tegla Loroupe Tegla Chepkite Loroupe (born 9 December 1979) is a Kenyan long-distance track and road runner. She is also a global spokeswoman for peace, women's rights and education. Loroupe holds the world records for 25 and 30 kilometers and previously ...

, one of the most famous Kenyan female runners.

Etymology

Demographics

Pokot people The Pokot people (also spelled ''Pökoot'') live in West Pokot County and Baringo County in Kenya and in the Pokot District of the eastern Karamoja region in Uganda. They form a section of the Kalenjin ethnic group and speak the Pökoot language, ...

are the main inhabitants of the county and there is also a minority community of

Sengwer The Sengwer people (also known as Cherang'any and previously as Sekker, Siger, Sigerai, Segelai, Senguer, Senguel and Jangwel) are an indigenous community who primarily live in the Embobut forest in the western highlands of Kenya and in scattered p ...

Geography

Mount Mtelo Mount Mtelo (Sekerr) is the seventh-highest mountain in Kenya (3336m/10,944 ft), after Mt Kenya, Mt Elgon, Aberdares, High Cheranganis, and Mount Kipipiriand is situated in the North West highlands of West Pokot County, approximately 120 ...

is located in West Pokot County.

Constituencies

Kapenguria Constituency Kapenguria Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies of West Pokot County West Pokot County is a county of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kapenguria. The county covers an area of approximately ...

Kacheliba Constituency Kacheliba Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies of West Pokot County. The constituency has six wards, which are represented by Members of County Assembly at the West Pokot County Assembly in Kapenguria. ...

Pokot South Constituency Pokot South Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of the four constituencies in West Pokot County. The constituency was established for the 2013 General Elections. The Current Member of Parliament for Pokot South Constitue ...

Sigor Constituency Sigor Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies of West Pokot County West Pokot County is a county of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kapenguria. The county covers an area of approximately 9,169. ...

County subdivisions

The district has four constituencies: *

Economy

The West Pokot county economy is principally driven by agriculture and livestock rearing. Some of the main crops grown include maize, a staple ingredient grown mainly in West Pokot Sub-County, as well as finger millet, coffee, beans, onions, sweet potatoes, green grams, peas, mangoes, oranges, bananas, potatoes and pyrethrum. The latter two are mainly grown in South Pokot sub-County. In Pokot Central and North sub-counties, zebu indicine cattle have long been kept for meat production while in West Pokot and Pokot South sub-counties dairy breeds, primarily Ayrshire and Friesian, are increasingly kept for milk production.

Sport

Infrastructure

Energy

The

Turkwel Hydro Power Plant The Turkwel Hydroelectric Power Station, also Turkwel Dam, is an arch dam on the Turkwel River about north of Kapenguria in West Pokot County, Kenya. The dam serves several purposes to include hydroelectric power production, irrigation tourism a ...

operated by electricity generating company

Kengen was a after ''Shōan'' and before ''Kagen.'' This period spanned the years from November 1302 through August 1303. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1302 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The prev ...

is situated in West Pokot County. Though the plant produces about 105MW of power which is fed to the national grid, many communities around the power plant and the extensive districts of West Pokot and Turkana do not benefit from this resource.

Notable residents

, A world record holder for 20, 25 and 30 kilometres long distance track running *

Lonah Chemtai Salpeter Lonah Korlima Chemtai Salpeter ( he, לונה צ'מטאי-סלפטר, , born 12 December 1988) is a Kenyan-Israeli runner. She won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. At the European Athletics Championship ...

, Kenyan-Israeli Olympic marathon runner *

Simon Kachapin Simon Kachapin (born 1967 in Sigor, Kenya) is a Kenyan politician. He was the 1st governor of West Pokot County in Kenya. Kachapin is a member of the United Democratic Alliance. He was elected into office in 2013 during the Kenya general electi ...

, 1st and 3rd Governor of West Pokot County *

John Lonyangapuo John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, 1st Senator and 2nd Governor of West Pokot County

2019 Landslide

On the 23rd of November 2019 there was a landslide that has killed over 52 people. At least 22 other people are missing after this disaster, over 22,000 people have been displaced after this disaster.

References

External links

West Pokot County

Aridland.go.ke

Reliefweb.int

Map of the District
{{Authority control Counties of Kenya