Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 120633,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/120633/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "to the degradation of the Mau Forest Complex, which is going to cost this Government approximately Kshs38 billion to restore. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are aware that some politicians from the region have been visiting the settlers at their transit camps and urged them not to move back to their ancestral home areas until the Government gives them alternative land. The incitement by those politicians is intended to perpetuate impunity against the Government’s noble action of restoring the Mau Forest Complex. I would like to restate that the Government remains firm in its commitment to rehabilitate and restore the Mau Forest Complex. In this regard, I would urge Members of Parliament to assist the Government to achieve that objective. Historical records held by my Ministry on invasion of the forest confirm that in the year 2005, there were no encroachers in South-West Mau. However, in the year 2007, during the post-election violence, the forest was then invaded by encroachers who we are now removing. In Phases 1 and 2 of those programmes, those encroachers have been registered and through their identification cards, have been identified to have homes. In recognition, the Government has provided them with transportation to their ancestral home areas and arranged for a one-month livelihood support by the Ministry of State for Special Programmes to help them settle into their new lives. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry intends to raise a total of 14 million seedling to be planted in the Mau Conservancy within this financial year. Further, to ensure adequate protection of the forest, we will put up additional posts to secure it and also enhance the management infrastructure within the forest. I, therefore, urge all Members of this House and the general public to fully support this noble cause of the restoration of the Mau Complex for the benefit of Kenyans and our regional neighbours. The removal exercise has, however, been very peaceful and, so far, the restoration has already commenced. To date, 200 hectares of the degraded forest has already been replanted and the planting is going on. A large tree nursery has also been established and over 300,000 seedlings planted. My Ministry intends to use the Kazi kwa Vijana Initiative to rehabilitate the Mau Forest. The youth from that area will be given special priority in an effort to assist them to secure jobs that will uplift their living standards. Let me state that the Ministry of Medical Services has been providing health services. The Ministry of State for Special Programmes has also delivered food and non-food items. They include 990 bags of maize, 450 bags of beans, 90 cartons of cooking oil, 240 pieces of blankets, 1,020 pieces of jerry cans and 50 cartons of soap. In addition, the Ministry of State for Special Programmes has provided four National Youth Service (NYS) lorries attached to the crisis response centre to support the relocation exercise. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in addition, the Government is considering giving some money for relocation per household or per family. This, I must emphasize, is only for families that have been registered and moved out of the forest. The money is being offered on humanitarian grounds to assist the families settle and, the success of this exercise can only be achieved if the families that have moved out of the Mau forest are encouraged to register with our offices. Thank you."
}