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{
    "id": 1181026,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1181026/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 66,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I stand to support Sen. Kibwana’s Statement. It is high time we, the Senate, called the national Government to play its role in ensuring it sets and monitors the enforcements of those standards in this country. We are losing a lot in terms of national heritage. Our forests are being depleted. Kakamega Forest, the only tropical forest in the country, has been depleted because of activities that were allowed by officers who were in charge of forests and standards. What is happening in Kilifi is similar to what is happening--- We have a few people who prioritized making money over protecting this country. Under devolved governance, the national Government is in charge of putting national policies in place, setting standards and enforcing them. I am afraid we have seen a laxity in the national Government in the last ten years when it comes to playing its role under devolution to ensure standards are enforced. I do not know why that is happening because most of the functions they were carrying out have now been devolved. You would expect us to have better setting and enforcement of standards for us not to look ridiculous to the rest of the world as everybody wonders how we would do things like what is happening in Kilifi. It has been left to ordinary Kenyans to try and protect their heritage. Come this Saturday, the locals of Kakamega have organized a marathon in support of Kakamega Forest. A marathon that happens every year to raise funds in support of reviving the forest, something that should be the business of Government but the Government does not seem to care. The Mau Forest has been depleted because the Government does not seem to care. As we support this, we should summon those concerned including the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to explain the difficulty in protecting the heritage of this nation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Kilifi County happens to be your county. As a Senate, we want to support and ensure we reverse these shameful activities that are happening so that, as a nation, we can send a message to those concerned to know we cannot allow our country to be mortgaged in the manner in which it is happening. I suggest the relevant Committee upon which this matter will be referred to, may go further and find out why one would be interested in uprooting a whole tree and taking it across the seas and how it actually happened. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support."
}