Parents and guardians in Marsabit County still holding their children at home have been warned of dire consequences if they failed to take them to school as directed by the government.

Speaking at Kargi in his two days development tour in Laisamis constituency on Saturday, chief of staff and Head of the public service  Felix Koskei said education is a fundamental right to every child.

"As custodians of your children, we will hold you responsible when find school-going children at home. The government will not sit back but act decisively according to the law," said Felix.

He directed the county commissioner together with the relevant department to ensure that all school-going children are in school.

Koskei observed that the focus on child development is usually put on girls while boys are left out saying it's time to change that perception and include the boy-child as well.

"The issue of gender mainstreaming should not only be used to promote only girls. Attention should be paid to the boys as well," he said

The chief of staff said the creation of boarding schools would reduce cases of early marriages and teenage pregnancies promising that the national government would construct standard girl's boarding schools in the Laisamis constituency.

"There is a need for boarding facilities for girls so as to improve their completion rate. National Government would build one such facility in Laisamis constituency," he said

He cautioned that parents should marry the girls at their own risk saying the law will be unforgiving to them once found.

Felix said every child has a right to education and is entitled to protection against any form of exploitation.

"Educating a girl child creates many positive outcomes for economic development and poverty reduction by improving girl's income earning potential and social economic status," he said

The Head of public service advised elders that they should build peaceful coexistence between the neighbouring communities instead of hatred and conflict among the people.

He stressed that the youth should be taught to use their energy for productive activities and not to raid and attack other communities.

He pledged to launch more water projects to address the water shortage in the county to give relief to thousands of the residents in the area.

He disclosed that the national government will prioritize a solution to the water problem that has troubled the region and promised the construction of boreholes.

Felix said the national government under the leadership of President William Ruto is scaling up assistance to thousands of people experiencing food insecurity.

He said the government is determined to ensure no one dies of hunger even as he launched Sh7 million national government relief food.

He told residents that the national government through the Ministry of Immigration would fasten the process of getting identity cards which the residents decried over the issuance of IDs to young people.

He further processes the construction of the Hulahula-Kargi-Loiyangalani road.

Marsabit County Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo called for national government intervention to assist families facing food insecurity in the county.

He said the relief food availed so far by the government and partner was not sufficient to reduce hunger-situation, and added that the county could not provide sufficient food aid to all residents.

He said due to the severity of the situation many families still require support.

" People are facing food insecurity across the county as they lost their only source of livelihood. We call upon the national government and well-wishers to support the county's efforts so that we can reach more people," said Deputy Governor

The deputy county boss said the overall food security situation in the county remains critical despite several areas receiving March- April rain.

He said Governor Mohamud Ali's led administration undertook several steps to deal with the food crisis.

The Arid and Semi-arid principal secretary Idris Dokata assured county residents that the national government would support the county's efforts in relief food distribution.

He said the government is aware that many families in the county are facing food insecurity and the national government would roll out food distribution.

Interior principal secretary Raymod Omolo promised residents that he will sit with the senior security agencies to address the issues of police reservists which the residents requested for.

Kargi ward MCA Christopher Ogom called on the national and county government to provide residents with clean water for domestic use after their regular sources dried up.

He said there is a risk of eruption of waterborne disease since they have been sharing contaminated water with domestic and wild animals.

According to ward representatives, women and children are walking long distances in search of the commodity, spending more hours on single activities.