A reported gold discovery in Kenya's West Pokot County has sparked a rush to Cheparor village, drawing fortune seekers hoping to turn what lies beneath the soil into a new source of income.
 
Crowds on Monday spread across the arid landscape, digging pits, breaking apart rocks and draining muddy ground. Others sift through pans and inspect tiny quantities of gold-coloured material, with samples weighed on gramme scales.
 
 The rush has also brought new trade to Cheparor, with vendors arriving to sell food and supplies to the growing crowds.
 
But the sudden influx is putting pressure on water, sanitation and other basic services in the village.
 
The reported discovery has yet to be independently verified or proven commercially viable.
 
Gold mining is already established in parts of West Pokot, where authorities have previously raised concerns over unregulated extraction, environmental damage and safety risks.