- He said the 180 beneficiaries were selected from nine wards and each group received Sh3 million
- The wards are Alale, Chepareria, Lomut, Kasei, Weiwei, Kapchok, Kiwawa, Riwo and Masol
Image: MARYANN CHAI
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin has issued Sh27 million cheques to farmers and marginalised groups.
Kachapin said the money will unlock the beneficiaries' potential for sustainable development and economic growth.
He said the 180 beneficiaries were selected from nine wards and each group received Sh3 million.
The wards are Alale, Chepareria, Lomut, Kasei, Weiwei, Kapchok, Kiwawa, Riwo and Masol.
The funds were drawn from the Emergency Locust Project, a four-year initiative supported by the World Bank and the national government in partnership with Pokot government.
The project also seeks to address disasters such as drought and locust invasion.
Kachapin praised the groups' officials for their dedication and urged residents to effectively manage the funds.
Some of the funds will be used to buy goats, sheep and build bee hives.
Kachapin stressed the importance of value addition of honey to capitalise on the high demand.
He said plans are underway to enhance the Nasukuta abattoir to improve the quality of meat products and boost county's economy.
The abattoir will be transformed into a hub for animal processing in future.
He asked West Pokot residents to visit to Nasukuta to witness cultivation of grass.
"Grass farming is possible and very important since it is food for animals," Kachapin said.
West Pokot is set to launch an initiative in December that seeks to address food shortage.
West Pokot Agriculture chief officer Naomi Lemreng praised the governor for overseeing successful implementation of all agriculture projects.
‘‘I express my gratitude to the governor for overseeing the ongoing project diligently and ensuring that all projects are executed as planned,’’she said.
Lemereng urged the county to allocate additional resources to the department to ensure successful completion of projects.
She called for the recruitment of more staff to enhance delivery of agricultural services to farmers and promotion of employees.
Kapchok Ward MCA Peter Lokor urged the governor to dispatch tractors to their respective wards.
This move will not only assist farmers in effectively manage the tractors but also streamline farming practices.
Chepareria Ward MCA Patrick Lokomol praised the department for promoting different farming techniques.
He said farmers' capacity building initiatives have improved livelihoods.