Haro calls for equal disaster response across regions

However, Haro points out that last year’s KCPE and KCSE candidates in his area did not benefit from such directives and were forced to sit their exams in flooded centres.

Haro says the plight of vulnerable members of society, including those with disabilities and expectant women are sometimes unable to comply with government mitigation orders such as evacuation and relocation decrees.

The MP criticises the government for its reluctance to declare flood situations as national emergencies, which could unlock much-needed aid.

“During the last El-Nino disaster, which rendered some North Eastern areas unreachable, we couldn’t have airdrops of supplies due to lack of capacity. The World Food Programme (WFP) was the only institution capable of doing that work, but they told us that the government has to declare a national disaster for them to activate their equipment,” he explained.

He also identifies the absence of government representatives and machinery in times of crisis as contributing to the region’s feeling of being marginalised.

At the same time, Haro dismisses the pastoralist community parliamentary caucus as an ineffective group that fails to realise its significant power, particularly when voting on crucial issues like the Equalisation Fund.

“That inequality manifests itself between regions, counties, or even within counties like in Nairobi. The response you have seen in Mathare, Mukuru, and what is happening in Runda are completely different,” he says.