WEST POKOT, Kenya – The county government of West Pokot has taken a decisive step towards a lasting change in a region marred by high poverty levels that remains one of the most pressing challenges.
This week, the devolved unit officially approved the West Pokot County Ultra-Poor Graduation Policy and reviewed the accompanying Bill ahead of its presentation to the area County Assembly.
“These frameworks will provide a coordinated, well-resourced approach to lifting our most vulnerable households out of poverty and into sustainable, dignified livelihoods,” said area Governor Simon Kachapin.
Governor Kachapin, who made a political comeback as the county boss through the 2022 General Election, indicated that this effort is firmly rooted in his manifesto and is aligned with his commitment to building a more equitable and empowered county.
“I deeply appreciate the support of the Gates Foundation, through Village Enterprise, in shaping these transformative tools that will guide our interventions in addressing poverty in our county,” explained Governor Kachapin.
What does the development of a draft Poverty Graduation mean
West Pokot County has significant poverty levels, with an average of 61.4% overall and a higher rate of 67% when considering unplanned families.
But now, this is likely to come to an end through the development of a draft Poverty Graduation and Social Protection Bill.
A weeklong workshop supported by Village Enterprise reviewed the county’s policy on poverty graduation to ensure both documents are aligned and actionable.
The bill seeks to institutionalise the Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) approach across all county departments, making poverty reduction a countywide responsibility. It also introduces gender-sensitive and results-based monitoring tools to track progress more effectively.
Deputy Speaker Victor Siywat expressed strong support for the initiative.
“The poverty levels we’re seeing are deeply concerning. This bill offers a clear path forward. It’s time to take action and make sure help gets to those who need it most,” Siywat said.
Why West Pokot County is reeling from extreme poverty
The North Rift region county contributes relatively little to the national economy, with a Gross Value Added (GVA) of over Sh52 million.
The poverty rate in West Pokot is higher than the national average of 45%, and the county government is now focused on addressing extreme poverty.
County Executive Committee Member for Tourism, Culture, Sports, Youth, and Social Protection Lucky Litole, acknowledged the challenges posed by the lack of a legal framework.
“Without clear guidelines, implementing the program has been tough. This framework gives us the structure we’ve been missing. We deeply appreciate the support from Village Enterprise and are fully committed to making this work,” Litole explained.
The bill now heads to the County Assembly after getting a clean bill of health from the Cabinet. It forms part of West Pokot’s broader effort to embed social protection into long-term planning, in line with Vision 2030 and the county’s 2023–2027 development goals.
