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{
    "id": 1271980,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1271980/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 105,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Soipan Tuya",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 926,
        "legal_name": "Roselinda Soipan Tuya",
        "slug": "roselinda-soipan-tuya"
    },
    "content": "the highest opportunity for our tree growing initiative to succeed. This is where we have the land available in large sizes. Therefore, yes, we have to do affirmative action of sorts and we are in discussion with the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Sanitation to start with. This is because of the weather conditions in the ASALs which do not give us the opportunity to do massive tree growing because of the unpredictability of the rains and the likes. We have the plans for the schools, but we must march this with the availability of the necessary infrastructure, key of which is water. So, there are discussion whereby we are engaging with the counties through the Council of Governor (COG) for a specialized strategy for ASALs which we must get right. We cannot succeed with our 15 billion tree initiative without the full utilization of the availability of land in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas. The Seed balls Technology is one that we are exploring. It helps with the dispersion of seed in vary vast areas, for planting indigenous species of trees which is what will thrive more in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas. This is one of the strategies that we are looking at. From the counties affected by the prosopis plant, we are at an advance stage of presenting a strategy to the Cabinet for approval. This is to enable us to have a management plan for the prosopis where we replace the prosopis with the acacia trees which are the indigenous. I know we have about 22 counties affected by the prosopis. Once you replace that with the acacia, it comes with a whole value chain of livelihood support programmes. This includes the raisins and gum resources that are available to support the livelihoods of the communities. So, yes, we have that program in place. The question of carbon markets has been shrouded with a lot of lack of transparency in terms of the benefits that accrue to the communities. More so, Kenya is touted as the top trader in carbon trading in the region at about 20 to 30 per cent. However, when you try to put a finger to what this is about, it is not clear. So, what we have done Sen. Abass, is that we have markets strategy and framework through the Amendment of the Climate Change Act. We have already submitted it to the National Assembly and the Leader of Majority is aware. Kenya is going to be the first in the region to put in place a carbon markets law and strategy. So that we have high integrity and transparency in that process including the benefits that are accruing to communities as well as the potential for tax revenues for Government. I thank you."
}