Sarah Pkyach Chepurai, Miss Tourism Metropolitan International 2018/2019 Monday received a heroic welcome back home from West Pokot county leaders, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and residents of the county.
Ms.Pkyach emerged the first runner up in the contest and was crowned miss metropolitan international in the recently concluded Miss Tourism International held in Malaysia
Pkyach, who is also Miss Tourism Kenya 2018 was received at Murkwijit at the border of West Pokot and Tran Nzoia counties and was given a rousing welcome when she was offered traditional milk ‘mursik’ from a gourd, before heading to Makutano town for celebrations.
Pkyach urged parents to ensure that they give their children freedom to realize their dreams by nurturing their talents.
She promised that she will use the two titles she received to make sure that youth in the county are able to realize their talent and nurture them.
“I will make use of my two titles by ensuring that youth from the region are able to realize their talents and make use of them. Our county has been receiving negative publicity and now it is the time to prove to the nation and the world that Pokot community can produce good people who are ready to change the world, and we can only achieve this if we take our children to school and help them realize their talents,” she said.
“I was very happy to raise the Kenyan, African and West Pokot county flag high and I urge parents to embrace girl child education”, she said.
Ms. Pkyach who is also a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Science in Biostatistics at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is also the West Pokot county and JKUAT miss tourism 2018.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa lauded miss Kenya tourism 2018 ( Pkyach) for making Kenya proud and at the same time redefining the name of West Pokot county.
“I know this county has been portrayed as an insecure area due to negative publicity for many years but now you have proved to the nation and the world that something good can come from this region. Also you have proved that black is beauty,” Wamalwa said.
Wamalwa asked parents in the region to value education and take children to school, saying it is the only way of transforming the county.
“Pkyach has put the West Pokot county map on the world map. She has made us proud and what remains is to see to it that we allow our children explore their talents and take them to school. Education is the only key to success in development,” he said.
The area governor, John Lonyangapuo said Pkyach’s success has proved to the world that West Pokot County is a land of hidden treasures.
‘We all the people of West Pokot county congratulate you for emerging the first runner – up in the just concluded event in Malaysia and being crowned miss tourism metropolitan international’, said the governor
Lonyangapuo said that the beauty pageant will play a crucial role in preserving the county’s rich heritage and market tourist attraction sites in the county.
Also present were area members of parliament Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria), Peter Lochakapong ( Sigor), William Kamket(Tiaty), West Pokot woman representative Lilian Tomitom and West Pokot county Speaker Catherine Mukenyang among others.
By John Saina
Miss tourism metropolitan gets heroic welcome in West Pokot
