But the uncovering of larger quantities at the beginning of August is what caught the attention of many people.

Kiarie reckons as rumours spread, the number and size of the discoveries were exaggerated – drawing in ever larger groups of people with little or no mining experience who hoped to replicate the reported early successes.

Since the initial rush, the number of prospectors has gone down to around 2,500 as some have given up the search.

While there is little doubt that some gold has been found in the area, questions remain about the size of the deposit in the earth and its commercial potential.

“I can confirm that small-scale gold traders told us they received an average of about 100 people every day,” the deputy commissioner says – though whether the finds were actually gold is not known.

Individual discoveries reportedly range from amounts worth a few hundred Kenyan shillings to one find valued at approximately 78,000 shillings ($600).

West Pokot county borders Uganda, and communities on both sides have long-standing social and family ties.

Mugisha Godfrey, an artisanal miner from Busia in eastern Uganda, travelled to Cheporor after hearing about the discovery from a friend.

He immediately set out for the village spending about 100,000 Ugandan shillings ($27) to get there.

However, the living conditions in Cheporor are not favourable, he says.

“We sleep under the trees, and when morning comes, we continue working. Sometimes we work both day and night,” Godfrey tells the BBC.

So far, he has found nothing. But he is not discouraged.

“We can’t return unless we find something. Only when we have found what we need can we go back home,” he says.