Pupils at a primary school in northern Kenya face the risk of being attacked by crocodiles and hippos after world’s largest desert water body burst its banks and swamped the school.

As a result, the government has stepped in to salvage El Molo Bay Primary School in Loiyangalani, Marsabit County, which is on the verge of total submersion as water levels in the lake rises.

Speaking at the school during a government outreach event – the Huduma Smart Serikalini initiative – Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku assured the community of immediate action to relocate the school to higher ground.

Ruku said relocation plan will be executed by the state department for special programmes in partnership with local leaders and civil society organisations to give the community a befitting learning institution for their children.

Owing to climate change, which has seen waters bodies like lakes and rivers swell, Lake Turkana has submerged some buildings and has forced families to move to higher ground.

Since 2018 when the lake’s water level began rising, students population has fallen from 400 to 150 at El Molo Bay Primary School.

The cabinet secretary noted that many of the remaining students have to cross the lake using a boat locally referred to as “school bus“ adding that it was the Kenya Kwanza administration goal to ensure children in remote areas were not left behind in terms of education and other development.

“Relocating this school is not just about safety, it’s about securing the future of this community,” said the cabinet secretary.

Cabinet Secretary Ruku also reiterated the government’s commitment to fighting corruption saying President William Ruto’s administration is aligned to a zero-tolerance policy on graft. He underlined that integrity should be the foundation on which Kenyans were served as corruption undermined development and effective service delivery.

“Corruption undermines service delivery, robs citizens of opportunities and erodes trust in public institutions,” he said.

The cabinet secretary urged Kenyans to reject bribery and report all instances of graft and stressed that accountability rested with every citizen.

The Huduma Smart Serikalini initiative that is being implemented under Executive Order No.1 of 2025 is tailored to address challenges facing marginalised and vulnerable communities. Particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Marsabit.

It focuses beyond emergency responses by delivering on food security, climate resilience, education, health and social protection.

Ruku said his ministry was championing long-term programmes that are people centred to promote economic empowerment and human capital development.

The cabinet secretary further appealed on Marsabit residents to safeguard the restored peace by living in unity and urged local leaders to work together for the benefit of their communities. He pointed out that people always benefit whenever leaders were united unlike divisions and conflict that derail the development that everyone seeks.

Also present was local (Laisamis) MP Joseph Lekuton, Marsabit County woman representative Naomi Waqo, EALA MP Iman Falhada and the Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary Aurelia Rono among others.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sebastian Miriti