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{
    "id": 1495948,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495948/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 333,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "content": "especially water scarcity, is a global concern, with international organisations like the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) predicting that close to half of the world's population will be living in areas facing water scarcity as early as next year, 2025. At the centre of this rising crisis is invasive trees like the eucalyptus species. Research evidence has revealed the vesting impact the tree has in several countries. In 2023, a study in Ethiopia alluded to the fact that the rapidly expanding areas with eucalyptus on farmer’s fields affected the blue water supply downstream. Other examples are the water wells in India and Zimbabwe that reported between 25 to 37 per cent reduction in a span of three to five years after planting of eucalyptus trees close to the rivers. Other countries, including Portugal, Spain and Rwanda, have banned eucalyptus trees completely. Portugal started the shift in 1990. Rwanda took the decision to ban the tree species in 2009, while Spain commenced what they called 'de-eucalyptulising' in 2018 and actively resorted to replanting other tree species - including the native ones – thus helping to boost the chances for nature to recover some of its resistances. All those countries have embraced other equally economically useful tree species that are friendly to the environment and protect the earth and its inhabitants. During my research and working with the experts in the environmental space, I found that one of the trees that has been recommended as a replacement for eucalyptus is the bamboo tree. The reason for that is that the bamboo tree has equal economic benefits as the eucalyptus tree, but it is more friendly towards the environment, especially the wetland areas. It is our moment to follow suit in Kenya. The future management options of eucalyptus species call for interventions that must be regulated and coordinated at national level, and then cascaded to the counties. That legislation is long overdue. In 2009, the late Hon. John Michuki, the then Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry, ordered eucalyptus to be uprooted from water riparian areas. Despite the ban on planting of eucalyptus, that directive was not successfully implemented because there was no back-up of the law. Therefore, the regulations could not be implemented by the Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Deputy Speaker, when it is passed by this honourable House, the proposed amendment will allow the Cabinet Secretary to make specific prohibitions on introduction, growth and maintenance of the eucalyptus species in Kenya. This will align and cement the existing climate change and sustainable environmental conservation regulation framework to achieve a more resilient eco-system. In terms of public participation, I conducted a community focused engagement in my home county, which I use as a pilot scheme: “The Super MP Football Tournament.” It had a running theme dubbed: 'Reviving our Rivers.” We ensured that young people who participated in that tournament planted alternative trees before they began the football game. For a period of four weeks, there was intense discussion about that particular aim of reviving our rivers within Nyamira County. Three weeks ago, there was another public participation exercise that was conducted in Kilifi County whereby stakeholders also agreed that following the passing of the amendments, the Government, private sector and civil society will collaborate to achieve the goals that are outlined in the Bill to promote sustainable development. I had an opportunity to also present this particular Bill before the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining. The Committee had an opportunity to conduct widespread public participation, including engaging the experts in the environment space and they approved this Bill to proceed. The Environment Management and Coordination (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 66 of 2023), is essential to protect our water resources. I recommend that the national institutions that are mandated to manage forests and water catchment areas like the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and Water"
}