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"id": 1492069,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
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"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
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"content": "My apologies. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, can you protect me from the heckling of Sen. Eddy? He is used to that. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me go to Clause 2. I can see this is a brief Bill. I agree with the sourcing of tree seeds. I thank the President for being the leading light in the issue of climate change in the world and in Africa. However, I would like to request that through the Sen. Haji’s Bill, we need to use community-based organizations (CBOs) of the youth, people living with disability, women, especially in Meru and Nandi counties. Let us give that responsibility to the CBOs. In Nandi, we have a place called Kingwal near Chepterit, where we have the rarest species of tress called Sakastunga. Therefore, in the tree planting exercise, we should give it to CBOs that belong to the youth, women and people living with disability. In reference to this clause, on the issue of promoting reforestation in semi-arid areas, you are aware in some areas in Nandi County, most of the land has been taken for farming. This is similar in Narok County and many other areas that have a big challenge because of cultivation. We are losing most of the forest cover in the country. I therefore support reforestation and afforestation in semi-arid areas. It is important that we ensure that we plant trees in public land, like Uhuru Park in Nairobi City, Nandi, or even Meru counties. Let us outsource the seedlings, and use the Kenya Forest Service and the CBOs, so that we give opportunity to the young people. I have seen the Government has hired the Green Army to clean the Nairobi River. That is not only enough, we need to give seedlings by the Kenya Forest Service to CBOs. On Clause 3, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just to give the background information, the forest cover of Kenya as we speak is 8.81 per cent. According to the United Nations (UN) target, the forest cover in Kenya should be 10 per cent. However, with the advent and the guidance of the President, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the planting of 15 billion trees across the country will ensure that we reach 30 per cent forest cover. So, the intention of the President of having 15 billion trees will translate automatically to 30 per cent forest cover. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Africa, the country with the biggest forest cover is Guinea-Bissau, with 60 per cent forest cover. When you go to South America and Brazil, where I have visited several times, of course, Amazon comes first, although there have been challenges of afforestation and fires. I saw today in Makueni County that there were fire challenges. Some forests were burning down. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate."
}