The government remains committed to changing lives in West Pokot County, owing to the several ongoing development projects in the area.

The county, which forms part of the North Rift region, has benefitted from multi-million worth of investments in the water and agricultural sector, aimed at making local residents self-reliant, courtesy of the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) among other development partners.

Speaking during a development assessment tour and commissioning of water projects within the county, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said that his initial encounter with the county painted a different story of fear and despondency, where huge budgets were by then being channelled towards security operations, but currently the script has changed.

Harsama recounted that while serving the county in a different capacity in the past, it was a tall order for residents to get essential government documents like Identification Cards (IDs) days back, owing to the strict vetting processes that were in force, occasioned by the complex way of life of the residents. "Today I have come to commission water projects, although there are so many other projects worth admiration, such as tarmac roads and huge agricultural ventures.