The Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, Mr. Felix Koskei, has decried the failure to exploit resources abundant in Marsabit County that could generate wealth and transform the lives of local communities.
At the same time, Koskei assured residents of the county that the government will continue to initiate development projects geared towards their well-being and urged local communities to coexist peacefully.
The Head of the Public Service who spoke at Kari when he made a two-day tour of Loiyangalani sub-county in Laisamis constituency to assess the service needs of the locals pointed out that the region was endowed with enormous resources that, if harnessed, could create jobs and generate wealth.
Reacting to calls by residents and leaders, who included area MP Mr. Joseph Elkton and Deputy Governor Mr. Solomon Gobo, Koskei cited the existence of great potential in tourism, minerals, fisheries, livestock rearing, and trade, which if tapped could transform lives.
This, he noted, would be realised if there was an enabling environment for investment, and he asked elders and leaders to build peace and trust among communities.
Koskei challenged the local leadership to formulate development plans that would see the exploitation of the existing resources for the improvement of the living standards of the residents.
He further pointed out that that would only be possible if the communities embraced education and directed the County Commissioner, Mr. Norbert Komora, to ensure that all school-aged children are enrolled in school, irrespective of gender.
‘I would like the County Commissioner to ensure that relevant agents as well as parents and guardians perform their roles as expected because all children should access education without exception as a basic and legal right,’ he directed.
While acknowledging that a lot needs to be done in virtually all sectors, Koskei said the government would consider the construction of school boarding facilities in Kargi ward while the Hula-Hula Loiyangalani road would be upgraded to bitumen standard.
On the prolonged drought, which has made the majority of families to be food insecure, the head of the public service said the government was scaling up the relief food rations to ensure that nobody starved because of hunger.
‘The President Ruto administration is keen on ensuring equity in service delivery as well as resource allocation, and today relief food valued at Sh7 million comprising of rice and beans will be distributed to benefiting families in the sub-county,’ said the head of the public service.
He also announced plans to help pastoralists who lost their livestock to the severe drought to get back to their economic activity through a post-restocking programme.
Koskei, who was accompanied by Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Mr. Raymond Omollo, Idris Dokota of ASALs, and Eng. Joseph Mbugua of Roads, underlined the need for local communities to shun retrogressive and outlaw customary practises of livestock raids and early marriages.
He said that the determination by the government to eradicate the vices would be sustained and asked the local leadership, especially elders, to take an active role in enlightening their communities on the dangers of the practises.
The government intends to rehabilitate dilapidated water systems in Kargi ward and also sink an extra borehole to address the water shortage for both human and livestock use and ensure the success of resilient development programmes.
The head of the public service also called for environmentally friendly development activities like keeping the right number of animals in tandem with the land’s carrying capacity and growing trees in order to effectively mitigate against climate change.
Source: Kenya News Agency