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{
"id": 1492070,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1492070/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
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"content": "So, we want to encourage all Kenyans on the issue of reaching 30 per cent. It cannot only be done in highlands of the country. It can also be done in semi-arid areas. Out of the143 million acres that we have in this country, 104 million acres are in scrubland. Therefore, the Bill of Sen. Haji has the intention of ensuring that we have vegetation cover, even on 2.5 million acres of public forests. In Nandi County, for example, we have three forests. We pride ourselves in Nandi North Forest, Tinderet and Nandi South Forest that covers both Emgwen. We also have Kimondi Forest near Kapsabet Town, Nandi Hills, and also part of Tinderet that stretches all the way to Kericho County. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is important to put in context the planting of trees on public land. I would like to encourage and say, some of us were a bit jittery when the Nairobi Expressway was being built because there were many trees where Nairobi Expressway is. That is why when they wanted to construct the entry point of the Expressway, and even bus terminals here in Nairobi City County, we were a bit uncomfortable because Nairobi should have more tree coverage. I remember when Hon. Gakuo was the Clerk of Nairobi City, he tried planting more trees within the city. I encourage all our towns and cities in the country, including Meru and Makutano. We should encourage more planting of trees. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to mention and congratulate Mandera County. The other day, they were awarded the world's greenest city. They are using women to plant trees and adopt a tree. You plant a tree and take care of it. I congratulate the people of Mandera County for the Mandera Green Initiative. If Mandera County, which is dry, has better forest cover, why do we not have in Kericho, Narok, Migori, Kapsabet yet we depend on rain? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, to put that part in context, the forest cover per county is as follows: Isiolo county leads with a forest cover of 53.4 per cent, Nyeri comes in at number two with 40,8 per cent forest, the third one is Lamu with 32.15 per cent, Nyandarua with 26.32 per cent, Bomet is 24.28 per cent and Kilifi concludes this list. The counties with the lowest forest cover because ours is to protect the interests of counties are Siaya with 0.23 per cent. Migori, where my brother, Sen. Eddy, comes from is among the bottom five with 0.31 per cent, Busia, with 0.56 per cent, Wajir with 0.98 per cent and Marsabit with 1.1 per cent. What Sen. Haji is trying to is very important and therefore, Members should be aware of their counties’ forest cover. I wish to encourage Sen. Eddy that when is going home now that Migori is doing badly, he should plant more trees. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on Clause 4, 40A(1): A person who harvests a tree shall replace the tree under the direction and in an area designated by service. I agree with that. There used to be a saying that when you fell one tree, plant two more. However, I would like to propose another saying that when you fell a tree, plant two more and adopt them. The issue is not planting but taking care of that tree until it reaches maturity. We also want to encourage the logging and the harvesting of trees. A moratorium was lifted the other day. We want to ensure that there is a process of licensing, harvesting 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."
}