Pastoral Communities Empowerment Program (PACEP) is a non –profit, non governmental organization (NGO) registered in the year 2008 under the National Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Coordination Act of 1990. The organization was initiated by a group of professional women who were for a long time involved in the campaigns against harmful traditions and practices among the pastoral communities. The members of the organization themselves have been affected in one-way or another by these retrogressive traditions such as female genital mutilation (FGM) early marriage (EM) and marginalization of women due to their gender in these communities, on leadership and in decision making in the community level
and nationally are restricted from seeking elective positions by their inhibitive pastoralists negative cultures. In pastoral communities the Vulnerable groups that include women, disables and people suffering from HIV scourge face stigma and severe marginalization. For that reason these groups do not enjoy their human rights.

However PACEP on it’s part , has had a history of improving the lives of the people in West Pokot County and neighbouring pastoralists communities in recent years as it intervened in improving the lives of the communities in the region through the following programmes : -

1. Combating gender-based violence
2. Promoting women’s capacity on human rights and leadership opportunities
3. Reduction of HIV /AIDS Infections
4. Biodiversity and Environmental conservation

The County is predominantly inhabited by the pastoralists Pokot indigenous people with a population of 624,000 who are still deeply rooted in their traditional cultures and is purely patriarchal society in nature. These structural barriers through patriarchy, discriminatory customary laws and institutions still limit indigenous women’s participate in public forums or seek public service.

Generally, the county experience low literacy levels, poverty and frequent conflicts. Harmful traditions such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and Early marriage is still practiced widely. The harmful practices are part of the obstacles that hinder women/girls from participating in formal education hence brings a gap between women and men in relation to access to employment and resources.