Governor Simon Kachapin during the launch of the West Pokot County Poverty Graduation Act, 2026
West Pokot has unveiled a new law aimed at helping vulnerable households escape extreme poverty through economic empowerment, social protection and sustainable livelihoods.
Governor Simon Kachapin rolled out the West Pokot County Poverty Graduation Act, 2026, saying the legislation would strengthen poverty reduction efforts and create pathways for vulnerable families to achieve economic self-reliance.
The new law provides a comprehensive legal framework for identifying and supporting beneficiaries through sustainable livelihood programmes, economic inclusion initiatives and targeted interventions designed to help households transition out of extreme poverty.
Implementation of the Act will be supported by Village Enterprise, a development organisation partnering with the county government of West Pokot to advance poverty graduation programmes and economic inclusion strategies.
“Through this partnership, the county will strengthen household resilience, support entrepreneurship and improve livelihoods using community-driven and evidence-based approaches,” Kachapin said.
Speaking during the launch, the governor said the county remained committed to reducing poverty and creating opportunities for residents to become economically self-sufficient.
He said the new law would guide coordinated efforts to uplift vulnerable families and promote sustainable socio-economic development across the county.
“This new law is critical to ensuring we systematically, and through a planned process, support our people to fight poverty,” Kachapin said.
The governor observed that poverty remains one of the biggest obstacles to development in the region, with many families struggling to meet their basic needs.
The launch came shortly after five communities in West Pokot received titles to their community land in a move aimed at strengthening land rights and promoting secure land ownership.
The communities awarded the titles are Alale, Kiwawa, Mbarau, Kases and Chelopoy. Residents welcomed the move, describing it as recognition of their rights and identity.
The titles were issued during an event presided over by Deputy Governor Robert Komolle, who also launched the County Physical and Land Use Development Plan (CPLUDP) 2026–36.
He described the land-use plan as a landmark policy document that will guide sustainable land use, physical planning, environmental conservation, urban development and socio-economic growth across the county over the next decade.
“Land is a key resource with many uses and benefits, hence the need for a proper plan that will guide how we use it to maximise its benefits,” Komolle said.
The launch was attended by a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Also present were Farayi Zimudzi, FAO Representative in Kenya, and Husna Mubarak, Governance and Social Inclusion Lead and Digital Land Governance Programme (DLGP) manager.
Instant analysis
The Poverty Graduation Act signals a shift from short-term relief programmes towards a more structured approach to tackling poverty in West Pokot. By anchoring economic inclusion and livelihood support in law, the county hopes to create sustainable pathways out of poverty for vulnerable households. The partnership with Village Enterprise adds technical expertise and evidence-based approaches to the initiative. Coupled with recent efforts to secure community land rights through title deeds and long-term land-use planning, the county is pursuing a broader strategy that links social protection, economic empowerment and resource management as key drivers of development and resilience.
