West Pokot County is now safe and peaceful for investment and businesses after making many headlines over wrong reasons.
For decades, the County was known for retrogressive practices of banditry and cattle rustling vices that have for a long time scared away investors and derailed development in the area.
A recent report released by the National Police Service (NPS) ended December, 2019 shows that West Pokot is among Counties with the lowest crime rate after Kwale and Kakamega Counties.
Area Governor Simon Kachapin is now assuring investors that the County is now the best for investment.
He said the local community has abandoned cultural practices that previously scared away investors.
“This community has abandoned practices such as cattle rustling, a vice that has for a long time, scared away investors and derailed development,” Kachapin said.
Speaking on Tuesday in Kapenguria, the County boss appealed to investors and Non-Governmental Organizations to continue operating in the area noting that their presence is a boost to development.
“Without peace there will be no development. West Pokot is the peaceful County and not as it has been branded with bad names. This is the best County for investment and business,” he said.
He called on new investors to initiate development projects and businesses in the County to help improve the economy and spur development in the area.
“We thank the government efforts together with other organizations for restoring security making this region viable for investments. We are now asking investors to come and utilize the resources in our County and improve the livelihood of our people,” he said.
Kachapin said that the area is endowed with natural resources which have largely remained untapped for decades.
The Governor pointed out that the Pokots abandoned cattle rustling some time back and investors have since been attracted to the region, and hence should not be scared with inaccurate reporting.
He lauded the Government’s effort in beefing up security in the region and the NGOs for initiating peace fostering programmes, which have yielded fruits.
He challenged the national government to support the County in development of infrastructure and establishment of industries to create employment opportunities and attract investors.
He called on residents to shun tribalism in businesses.
“We want to have people from outside to invest in the County. We don’t want what happened in Uganda where former President Amin Dada chased away Indians and the economy collapsed,” he added.
“The County was for a long period known to be ‘a no go zone’ for business since the community was frequently fighting with its neighbors over grazing land and cattle rustling cases.
