West Pokot County is county 024 of Kenya’s 47 counties, in the former Rift Valley Province. Its capital is Kapenguria, with the adjoining commercial centre of Makutano carrying most of the trade. The 2019 census recorded 621,241 residents across 9,169.4 km². The county runs from the Cherangany highlands north to the hot Turkwel lowlands, and shares a long border with Uganda.
| Capital | Kapenguria |
| County code | 024 |
| Population (2019 census) | 621,241 |
| Area | 9,169.4 km² |
| Former province | Rift Valley |
| Sub-counties | 4 |
| Main languages | Pokot, Swahili, English |
Towns and Villages in West Pokot County
Kapenguria and Makutano sit side by side and function as one urban area. Ortum, Chepareria, Sigor, Kacheliba and Kabichbich are the other main service centres. The figures below are settlement-level estimates rather than KNBS urban counts.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kapenguria | County capital | 56,000 |
| Makutano | Town | 28,469 |
| Ortum | Town | 3,372 |
| Chepareria | Town | 1,073 |
The list below names all 104 recorded towns, trading centres and villages in West Pokot County, from Chepareria and Kabichbich in the south to Kacheliba, Kasei and Kanyerus near the Uganda border.
- Akeriamet
- Alalei
- Alburkaina
- Amaler
- Awaunyatun
- Burgich
- Chebugat
- Cheburua
- Chemeroi
- Chepareria
- Chepkono
- Chepkopegh
- Chepropro
- Cheptanoya
- Cheptaram
- Chepunyal
- Chesegon
- Chesera
- Chesogon
- Chiementerit
- Ilo
- Kabichbich
- Kacheliba
- Kalodeke
- Kameghen
- Kamnunguuawa
- Kamorow
- Kamugeto
- Kamunono
- Kanyangerang
- Kanyao
- Kanyarkwat
- Kanyerus
- Kapenguria
- Kapitero
- Kaptolomwa
- Kasei
- Kasekero
- Kataier
- Kauriong
- Keringet
- Kiberengi
- Kisiaunet
- Koduch
- Kokomach
- Kokusan
- Kongolai
- Korpu
- Kotich
- Kotogou
- Kotolpo
- Kukurna
- Kwaisagat
- Loima
- Lokitanyala
- Lolokom
- Lomut
- Lossom
- Lotongot
- Makuss
- Makutano
- Matalong
- Matembur
- Mbaara
- Morkwijit
- Morobus
- Moruethe
- Murua Nyangai
- Nakhang
- Nakinglas
- Nakuijit
- Nalakath
- Napotimoru
- Nasakol
- Nasolot
- Natira
- Naweyapong
- Ngembases
- Norgalitaba
- Ortum
- Orwa
- Parila
- Parua
- Pietwo
- Pkopoch
- Ptoyo
- Rama
- Ramai
- Sangwal
- Sarmach
- Sasak
- Sebit
- Serewa
- Sergoit
- Sigor
- Talau
- Tamkal
- Tartar Mission
- Terekondi
- Tingwani
- Torikoi
- Tulot
- Ukwaram
- Wakorr
Geography
West Pokot drops from about 3,300 m in the south-east to under 900 m along the Turkwel and Suam rivers. Mount Mtelo, at 3,336 m, is the highest point, and the Cherangany Hills form the southern boundary wall. Between them the land falls away through the Marich Pass into the Kerio and Turkwel lowlands, which are hot and semi-arid.
The Suam River marks part of the Uganda border and becomes the Turkwel further north. The Turkwel Gorge Dam, on the county’s north-eastern edge, holds the largest reservoir in the region and supplies a 106 MW hydroelectric station. Rainfall ranges from over 1,500 mm in the Cherangany highlands to under 600 mm at Kacheliba and Kanyerus. Nasolot National Reserve covers dry hills near the gorge.
The county borders Turkana County to the north, Baringo County to the east, Elgeyo-Marakwet County to the south-east and Trans Nzoia County to the south. Uganda lies along the western boundary.
Demographics
The 2019 census recorded 621,241 residents, about 68 people per square kilometre. Density is far higher in the farmed highlands around Kapenguria, Chepareria and Kabichbich than on the northern plains, where households are widely scattered.
The Pokot are the dominant community and speak Pokot, a Kalenjin language. The Sengwer are a smaller forest community in the Cherangany Hills, and Turkana households live along the northern edge. Swahili and English are used in schools and county offices.
Economy and Local Life
Livestock keeping is the backbone: cattle, goats, sheep and, in the drier north, camels. Herds move seasonally between highland and lowland grazing. Crop farming is concentrated in the south, where maize, beans, finger millet, potatoes and some coffee are grown around Kapenguria and Chepareria.
The Weiwei irrigation scheme near Sigor produces seed maize on the valley floor. Cross-border trade with Uganda runs through Kacheliba, Suam and Kongolai, moving livestock, maize and manufactured goods. Limestone and cement clinker production, honey and gold panning add income in places. Kapenguria also holds the museum at the site where Jomo Kenyatta and the other Kapenguria Six were tried and detained in 1953. The county governor is Simon Kachapin.
Getting There
The A1 highway is the main road. It runs north from Kitale through Makutano and Kapenguria, drops through the Marich Pass past Ortum and Sigor, and continues to Lodwar in Turkana. A branch road runs west from Kapenguria to Kacheliba and the Suam border post with Uganda.
Kitale is about 40 km from Kapenguria, an hour by matatu. Nairobi is roughly 450 km away, seven to eight hours by road through Nakuru and Eldoret. There are no scheduled flights into the county; the nearest airports with regular services are Eldoret International, about 110 km south, and the Kitale airstrip.
FAQ
What is the capital of West Pokot County?
Kapenguria is the county capital. The neighbouring town of Makutano, 3 km away, holds most of the shops, banks and the main matatu stage.
How many towns and villages are in West Pokot County?
This page lists all 104 recorded towns, trading centres and villages, from Kapenguria and Makutano to small centres such as Lomut and Kanyerus.
Which sub-counties make up West Pokot County?
Four: West Pokot, Pokot North, Pokot Central and Pokot South. The constituencies are Kapenguria, Kacheliba, Sigor and Pokot South.
What is the population of West Pokot County?
The 2019 census recorded 621,241 people across 9,169.4 km², about 68 per square kilometre.
Which countries and counties border West Pokot?
Uganda lies to the west, Turkana to the north, Baringo to the east, Elgeyo-Marakwet to the south-east and Trans Nzoia to the south.
How do you get to Kapenguria from Nairobi?
Drive or take a bus via Nakuru, Eldoret and Kitale, then north on the A1 — roughly 450 km and seven to eight hours.