Chepyuk Ward in Mt. Elgon Constituency: A Comprehensive Profile.

Chepyuk ward, situated within Mt. Elgon Constituency of Bungoma County, represents an area with complex historical land issues, developing infrastructure, and emerging economic potential. This report explores the geographical facts, property market dynamics, and recent development initiatives in this region that continues to navigate its unique challenges and opportunities.

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Geographical and Administrative Context.

Mt. Elgon Constituency, home to Chepyuk ward, is one of Kenya’s 290 constituencies and one of nine constituencies in Bungoma County. The constituency covers approximately 956.6 square kilometers and borders Uganda to the North and West, Trans Nzoia to the East, and Kimilili, Kabuchai, and Sirisia constituencies to the South. The constituency is administered through three administrative units: Mt. Elgon Subcounty (headquartered at Kapsokwony), Cheptais Subcounty (headquartered at Cheptais Township), and Kopsiro Subcounty (headquartered at Kopsiro Centre).

According to the 2019 census, Mt. Elgon Constituency has a population of 218,873 people. The constituency is primarily inhabited by the Sabaot community (making up about 60% of the population), with minority Bukusu and Teso communities also present. The region’s climate is favorable for agricultural and livestock production activities, which account for approximately 90% of economic activities in the area.

Administrative Structure and Political Representation.

Chepyuk is one of six wards within Mt. Elgon Constituency, alongside Cheptais, Chesikaki, Kapkateny, Kaptama, and Elgon wards. As of the 2022 elections, the ward is represented by Frankline Simotwo Korir of Ford Kenya party in the Bungoma County Assembly. The current Member of Parliament for Mt. Elgon Constituency is Fred Chesebe Kapondi, elected in 2022 under the UDA party as part of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The Complex Land Narrative of Chepyuk.

The history of land ownership in Chepyuk is deeply intertwined with Kenya’s colonial past and post-independence resettlement policies. The Chepyuk Settlement Scheme was established in 1971 to resettle the Sabaot community who had been displaced from their ancestral lands by British settlers during the colonial era.

Historical Context and Ongoing Challenges.

The settlement process occurred in three phases:

Chepyuk Phase I (1971-1974)
Chepyuk Phase II (announced in 1989)
Chepyuk Phase III (opened in 2011 to resettle 1,732 families)

Despite these resettlement efforts, land disputes in the region have remained contentious. The lack of formal title deeds has been a significant issue, with many residents only holding allotment letters as proof of ownership. In 2007, about 960 title deeds were processed for the Chepyuk Phase I settlement scheme, but as of 2021, 562 of these title deeds remained uncollected at the Bungoma lands offices. Many residents are unable to collect these titles due to their inability to pay the required levies, which range from Ksh 13,000 to Ksh 20,000.

These land disputes have occasionally erupted into violence, most notably with the formation of the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF), which was responsible for significant unrest in the region, reportedly resulting in over 1,200 deaths.

Property Market Dynamics: Cheap House for Sale in Chepyuk, Mt. Elgon - Housing Market.

The property market in Chepyuk and the broader Mt. Elgon area remains underdeveloped, largely due to the ongoing land ownership issues. Searches for housing price data in Chepyuk specifically return limited results, suggesting a nascent formal real estate market.

For context, in the broader Bungoma County, housing prices vary considerably:

3-bedroom houses in Kamukuywa sell for approximately KSh 1,600,000 to KSh 1,750,000.
3-bedroom houses in Webuye are priced around KSh 4,800,000.
3-bedroom bungalows in Kabuchai/Chwele sell for approximately KSh 1,500,000.
More premium properties, like a 3-bedroom house in Sio Estate Musikoma, can reach KSh 6,500,000.

Land for Sale Chepyuk, Mt. Elgon - Land Market.

The land market in Chepyuk is significantly hampered by the lack of formal title deeds. As Mt. Elgon MP Fred Kapondi stated, “Our real estate sector is dormant and we cannot even attach a price to our plots. Most residents only have allotment letters as proof of ownership. That is keeping off potential investors”.

This situation creates a stark contrast with more developed areas in Kenya. For instance, in the Kikuyu region, a 1/8 acre commercial plot ranges from KSh 4.5 million to KSh 10 million, while residential plots in various locations range from KSh 500,000 to KSh 20 million depending on the area.

Infrastructure Development Initiatives.

Recent years have seen several infrastructure development projects aimed at improving living conditions and economic opportunities in the Chepyuk area.

Water Supply Project.

In 2019, a significant water supply system project was initiated for Chepyuk Ward-Kibabii Complex. The project was contracted to Shanxi Geological Engineering Exploration Institute Limited at a contract price of USD 3,499,888.88. This comprehensive water system includes:

Intake facilities with a capacity of 4,200 cubic meters per day
A 3.8 km raw water main line
A water treatment plant processing 4,000 cubic meters per day
Transmission and distribution pipeline
Five service tanks
Twenty-five water kiosks and additional subsidiary facilities

Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration.

As of January 2025, Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties partnered with the Kenya Forest Service to implement a Sh600 million conservation project around the Mt. Elgon Forest. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, this Integrated Landscape Management for Conservation and Restoration of Mt Elgon Ecosystem project aims to:

Restore more than 50,000 hectares (123,552 acres) of agroforestry area
Benefit more than 60,000 households
Promote sustainable and integrated management of the Mt. Elgon landscape
Develop an all-inclusive and responsible coffee value chain
Support sustainable staple food production systems.

Road Infrastructure Challenges.

Despite these positive developments, Chepyuk continues to face significant challenges in road infrastructure. A comparative study between Chepyuk and Mitira wards revealed:

Chepyuk’s road network totals 72 kilometers compared to Mitira’s 99 kilometers
Chepyuk lacks any tarmac roads, while Mitira has 11 kilometers of tarmac roads
The poor road conditions in Chepyuk significantly impact economic opportunities

This infrastructure gap has direct economic consequences. For example, the average price of milk in Chepyuk is Ksh 36.65 per liter, compared to Ksh 55.08 in Mitira, demonstrating how limited market access due to poor roads reduces farm gate values for local producers.

Conclusion.

Chepyuk ward in Mt. Elgon Constituency represents a region with significant agricultural potential that continues to navigate complex land issues dating back to colonial times. While the property market remains underdeveloped due to ongoing land ownership challenges, recent infrastructure initiatives in water supply and conservation suggest positive momentum toward addressing some of the area’s basic needs.

The contrast in road infrastructure between Chepyuk and comparable wards highlights the ongoing development disparities that continue to affect economic opportunities for residents. Moving forward, resolving the title deed issues and improving transportation infrastructure appear to be critical priorities for unlocking the economic potential of this fertile region and improving the quality of life for its inhabitants.

As conservation efforts and water infrastructure projects take root, there may be opportunities for increased investment and development in the region, particularly if land ownership issues can be systematically addressed to provide security of tenure to residents and potential investors alike.

1.What are the current land prices in Cheptais?

2.How has recent infrastructure development impacted property values in Chesikaki?

3.Are there any upcoming infrastructure projects planned for Kapkateny?

4.How does the road network condition in Kaptama affect local businesses?

5.What are the average house prices in Elgon compared to other areas in Bungoma?