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{
"id": 1495982,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495982/?format=api",
"text_counter": 367,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Baringo County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Jematiah Sergon",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1495983,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495983/?format=api",
"text_counter": 368,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Baringo County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Jematiah Sergon",
"speaker": null,
"content": "eucalyptus and provide similar benefits. Hon. Mayaka has given us excellent examples such as the bamboo tree, which acts as a water reservoir. It collects and stores water during the rainy season. It has extensive fibrous roots, and is valuable for furniture, carpentry and construction. The bamboo tree is an ideal replacement that can be planted along waterways and rivers to help restore life. We cannot do much without water, as water is essential for all of us. As the Government of the day, our President has urged us to plant trees, with a target of up to 10 billion trees in the next five years. However, we cannot proceed with that initiative as long as the eucalyptus tree exists. We plant trees to encourage more rainfall, but with the eucalyptus trees present, the very water we are trying to attract through rainfall will be depleted. This is one of the best Bills. It is progressive and will benefit us in many ways. Lastly, I keenly listened to what an Hon. Member said, that a eucalyptus tree can take up to 90 litres of water per day in wet conditions and 40 litres per day in dry conditions. This is very serious. We should eliminate it fast like they did in Portugal. One day, they went into the forest and cut down all the eucalyptus trees. It will also be good for this country to adopt a very radical, purposeful and intended resolution of ensuring that eucalyptus trees are no longer planted, especially in the highland areas. In you go to Kericho and Bomet where they plant a lot of tea, you will see eucalyptus trees along the river banks. In those areas, it rains every day and yet, people do not have water. In Nandi, if you sink a borehole, you will not get water because the water table is too low. The eucalyptus trees have highly contributed to that. It is good that we have identified the problem. I urge the ministry to solve it so that we can preserve our water towers and reservoirs. When Hon. Soipan was the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, we went to plant trees in Nyandarua. A lake had dried up because the eucalyptus trees had been planted around it. That tree has been tested and proven to give a lot of negative response to the environment. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. With that, I support."
},
{
"id": 1495984,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495984/?format=api",
"text_counter": 369,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Member for Luanda, Hon. Dick Maungu."
},
{
"id": 1495985,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495985/?format=api",
"text_counter": 370,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Luanda, DAP-K",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Dick Oyugi",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to also add my voice to this very important Bill. Allow me to appreciate Hon. Mayaka for bringing it since it will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges that we are facing in this country with regard to climate change, wetlands and the conservation of the environment. As a young boy, I grew up in an environment with many wetlands and the climate was very conducive. The springs and water points were intact. So, we had enough water for human and animal consumption. A time came when there was clamour to plant trees. It happened that the eucalyptus trees were planted. Little did we know their impact. Many years down the line, we are seeing the repercussions of having planted those trees along river banks, wetlands and sources of water. I appreciate the Member for bringing a very good document which is showing the cost benefit and pros and cons of eucalyptus trees in our society. When they were introduced, many people, especially small-scale farmers who had some extra land, thought it wise to plant those trees so that they could get firewood and supply electric power poles. It appeared to be a short- term measure of making money. By and large, that tree is dangerous and very vicious in the sense that it ensures other crops do not have enough water and absorbs all the water in our wetlands. Our wetlands and rivers are shrinking and drying. Some of them have become extinct. This amendment Bill will ensure that we safeguard our wetlands and rivers. This will go a long way in giving dignity to mankind. As stated, that tree can draw as much as 90 litres of water per day. I am trying to imagine an animal that can consume such an amount of water per day. I cannot think of one. If those trees continue to absorb such an amount of water, at the end, we"
},
{
"id": 1495986,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495986/?format=api",
"text_counter": 371,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Luanda, DAP-K",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Dick Oyugi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1495987,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495987/?format=api",
"text_counter": 372,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Luanda, DAP-K",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Dick Oyugi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "will have very dry lands and no rivers and wetlands. There shall be no life. We all know that water is life. Kenya largely relies on agriculture to feed communities. Those trees are drying the agricultural land and reducing food production. I support the amendment that has been captured by my good friend, Hon. Irene, so that we can redeem our wetlands and rivers to be as they were before. I come from Vihiga County and we grow the blue gum tree in our area. The eucalyptus tree looks attractive and beautiful. To some extent, it has some medicinal benefits, but they are far much less compared to the water it consumes. COP29 is taking place right now. It is all about global warming and damages that are caused by human beings to the environment. Therefore, eliminating eucalyptus trees and planting bamboo trees will go a long way in maintaining our wetlands and rivers. I support and congratulate the Member for bring this amendment Bill at this point in time. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1495988,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495988/?format=api",
"text_counter": 373,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Member for Nyeri Town, Hon. Maina Mathenge."
},
{
"id": 1495989,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495989/?format=api",
"text_counter": 374,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nyeri Town, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Duncan Mathenge",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the amendment Bill by Hon. Irene. It is true that the eucalyptus tree has been studied by the Kenya Forest Service. The issues surrounding its effects on water sources are not disputed. As a country, it is imperative that we plan better and implement meticulously. There is no doubt in our minds that electrification in this country has largely been supported by poles from the eucalyptus trees. Those poles also offer affordable fencing in our rural smallholder farms. Due to its fast growth rate and maturity, our timber industry is largely supported by those trees. We cannot wish away their benefits to the economy and rural livelihoods. In rural Nyeri, households that use firewood depend on those trees. It is paramount that we come up with a comprehensive land use plan so that eucalyptus trees can be grown in designated areas or regions. It is easy to look at the negative effects, but it is imperative that we also strike the necessary balance so that we do not upset livelihoods, especially of vulnerable members of our society. I encourage Hon. Mayaka to pursue this and consult more experts. She should not only involve the national Government, but also the county governments, in terms of setting aside zones. In my area of Nyeri and Mount Kenya region, our tea factories largely rely on wood to process tea. Quite a number of those tea factories have leased lands, some in very unsuitable areas like Kieni, where eucalyptus trees should be banned. The area covers 52 per cent of Nyeri County, and it is semi-arid. On the other side, we have Tetu, Othaya and Mathira, whose economies are also dependent on tea growing and processing. Therefore, a delicate balance, on both the environmental effects and the economic use that the eucalyptus trees contribute in our country, needs to be properly established. The environmental impact assessment reports on areas where the eucalyptus tree is grown on large scale basis ought to inform the direction that we will eventually take in amending the Environmental Act. It is critical that we do not upset areas that are largely dependent on that tree without providing a viable alternative to its contribution and economic use. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support."
},
{
"id": 1495990,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495990/?format=api",
"text_counter": 375,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you very much. The Hon. Member for Funyula, Hon. Wilberforce Oundo, proceed."
},
{
"id": 1495991,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495991/?format=api",
"text_counter": 376,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity. Let me thank the young lady, Hon. Irene Mayaka, for bringing this amendment to the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. The purpose is that it is an Act of Parliament to amend the Environmental Management and Coordination Act and for connected purposes. Principally, the gist of the matter is to provide for the banning or prohibit the planting of eucalyptus species in and along any river, lake, sea or wetland."
}
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}