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{
    "id": 1181021,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1181021/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 61,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda SC",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. May I support the Statement by Sen. Kibwana as being particularly important for the environment. I speak because I know the value of the Baobab trees not just from a study. It is a fact that when you uproot Baobab trees and take them out there, you are talking about the heritage of communities and a Country. We are selling our heritage at a paltry Kshs300,000 per Baobab tree. I believe that this Country has the framework of law. The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) 1999 deals with questions of the principle that ensures we do not waste our environment. It creates framework that not only conserves but deals with questions of the future. The Precautionary Principle is enshrined at Section 3 of EMCA. It demonstrates that we should not destroy our environment and should always take precaution when dealing with questions as delicate as the unknown effects of uprooting the Baobab trees. I know that this resource, takes thousands of years to grow and mature. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you are from a region where Baobab tree thrives- Kilifi and Mombasa Counties. The destruction is irreplaceable. I wish that the agencies that are responsible for giving permits - NEMA puts in place tight measures that are prohibitive and that will ensure that nobody uproots a tree unless they are able to replace it. Baobab trees are irreplaceable and I support every bit of the Statement made by Sen. Kibwana. We should be talking about reforestation as a policy by the Ministry of environment not uprooting of trees. The Baobab tree is in the same category as the Coconut tree, it cannot be uprooted because a replacement will take many years I support."
}