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"id": 1283115,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1283115/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kathuri",
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"legal_name": "Murungi Kathuri",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to give my remarks on this important Bill. At the onset, I want to support this Bill, which is very critical. Actually, what the Government is doing is in line with the obligations that is in in the Constitution of Kenya in Article 69 (1) (a), which says- “The State shall - ensure sustainable exploitation, utilisation, management and conservation of the environment and natural resources and ensure the equitable sharing of the accruing benefits.” Mr. Speaker, Sir, carbon credit is a huge business. Kenyans should now know that growing trees should be an enterprise because many benefits are in this business. The outside world especially the Western countries have really benefited from this. Unfortunately, in Kenya, some communities or people have just been given some money here and there. However, the amount of money they have been given is not commensurate with what they are supposed to be getting. So, these regulations, once enacted, will be able to help Kenyans who are in the business of growing trees to benefit substantially. This Bill seeks to provide regulations on carbon markets. If we get this legal framework, definitely the communities will benefit socially, economically, and environmentally. The counties have huge tracks of land; if they can be encouraged to utilise the bare land--- Where I come from in Meru County, we have so many hills. If you go to Japan, all the hills in Japan have been rehabilitated and trees are growing like nobody’s business. It is actually Nairobi County that is not benefiting from this because the whole of Nairobi is full of houses. My colleague, Sen. Sifuna, your people cannot benefit from this business. However, if you talk to us who have a lot of land and we get good governors who can be able to commit and to work with other people, I will be able to assist Sen. Sifuna in Meru because we have many fields, which are bare and need many trees. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to agree with all those who have spoken. I also want to thank His Excellency the President for taking the lead on environmental matters. In 2016, I participated in the enactment of the Climate Change Act which was Hon. (Dr.) Otichilo’s Bill, who is currently the Governor of Vihiga County. We did a lot to enact that Bill. We really went into the depth of that legislation. Kenya was actually one of the first countries in Africa and almost the 10th in the world to enact the Climate Change Act. I know that we are amending this Act and the President is actually the Chairman of the National Climate Change Council. He is also the person who is spearheading the environmental matters. I also take this opportunity to welcome the delegates who will be coming to Kenya next week. Kenya is very hospitable. When they come to the conference and as much as possible, they should visit our national parks, the Nairobi National Park, Maasai Mara, Meru National Park, which is one of the ecosystems and the Coast, so that they can see the diversity."
}