Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday reached out to the West Pokot Leaders seeking to have customs hindering development in the area stopped.
Speaking at Tamugh during a church fundraiser, The DP revealed that outdated cultural practices were the main reason economic growth is sluggish in the area.
The practices included early forced marriages for young girls and lack of unity in the community.
He added that cattle rustling among the communities also had to be addressed to kick-start development in the region.
“We need to come up with strategies on how to end these vices as a team and by speaking one voice,” stated Ruto.
The county is marred with cattle rustling cases which raises the animosity between her and the other neighbouring communities.
Ruto disclosed that the national government had made enormous efforts in an attempt to open up the area for business and invite investors from outside the county.
He stated that the government had allocated Ksh450 Million for rural electrification targeting more than 15,000 people.
He further pointed out that education was the biggest redeemer of the community encouraging people to enroll their children in order to prevent massive illiteracy levels hindering community development.
On his part, West Pokot Governor John Lenyangapuo acknowledged that there were increased cases of cattle rustling and appealed to the deputy president to deploy more police officers to curb the menace.
“We have tried as elected leaders to unite our communities and we are requesting for more national police reservists along the border to help restore calm,” Lenyangapuo remarked.
DP Ruto is set to head to Western Kenya for more fundraisers set to take place at Malava Primary school for a church and Mumias for Boda Boda riders.
