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{
    "id": 1271968,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1271968/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 93,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Soipan Tuya",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 926,
        "legal_name": "Roselinda Soipan Tuya",
        "slug": "roselinda-soipan-tuya"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Sen. Methu, the issue of ensuring that we confine our harvesting to the 5 per cent is extremely pertinent. It calls on strict diligence by the KFS. I must assure you that I am aware of that. We have had to do serious operations which I would like to assure the Senate that they will be consistent and persistent. We have had interdictions of KFS officers and impounding of forest products going beyond the allowable limits. That is an exercise that will continue to make sure that we do not have people taking advantage of commercial plantations to go into our indigenous forests because that is not allowed. It is good for the Senate to know that we are keen on that. Recently, we did a recruitment of additional enforcement officers in form of forest rangers. We are bringing on board the green army. That is in the understanding that we have to heighten the enforcement to make sure that no illegalities happen in our forests. With regards to the baobab trees, this issue came up in Kilifi County sometimes late last year. There was uprooting of eight baobab trees. We delved into the issue as a Ministry through the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the KFS. We established that trees were uprooted by a certain company with the intention of establishing a botanical garden in Georgia and we followed that through. Upon establishing that due process was not followed, we stopped the exportation through the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). For a period of time, the relevant agencies such as the NEMA, the KFS, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and the County Government of Kilifi engaged with the project proponents. Clearance has been issued upon establishing that they have followed the due process. Sen. Methu, uprooting and exportation of baobab trees is not illegal in itself. It is within the ambit of trade in our genetic resources. We are party to the Convention on Biodiversity which allows for such trading. Investors can engage in trade in genetic resources within and outside Kenya. However, due process has to be followed. That is what we have to ensure it happens. The export which is ongoing is the first of its kind."
}