West Pokot County

West Pokot County is in the northwestern Rift Valley region of Kenya, bordering Uganda to the west and south. The county has a population of approximately 700,000 people. The Pokot (also called Suk) are the dominant community, a Kalenjin sub-group with distinctive pastoral and agro-pastoral culture. The county borders Uganda and has connections to South Sudan via Turkana County to the north. Kapenguria is the county headquarters and main town. West Pokot is predominantly pastoral, with livestock (cattle, camels, goats) as primary livelihood for many communities. The county experiences dramatic topographical variation from hot, arid lowlands to cool, fertile highlands.

Overview

The county landscape transitions from the Rift Valley floor (approximately 1,000 meters elevation) to highlands exceeding 2,000 meters. This elevation gradient creates distinct ecological zones supporting pastoral and agro-pastoral production. The Cherangany Hills form a major water tower on the county borders. Mount Sekerr and other peaks provide landscape features. Water is a critical limiting resource in lower-elevation zones, driving pastoral settlement patterns. The county experiences periodic droughts affecting livestock and pastoral livelihoods. Inter-communal cattle raiding and conflict have been recurring challenges due to resource scarcity and armed access.

Key Sites and Features

Kapenguria Town (county headquarters and historical detention site)
Cherangany Hills (water tower, highland pastoral area)
Mount Sekerr (prominent peak)
Nasalot National Reserve (wildlife protection area)
Jomo Kenyatta detention site (historical significance)

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West Pokot County

Overview

Key Sites and Features

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