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{
    "id": 1495952,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495952/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 337,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Laikipia County, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jane Kagiri",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to second the Environment Management and Coordination (Amendment) Bill. First, I take this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Irene Mayaka for a very well-thought-out amendment. As I second, I want to first take you through some statistics. It is medically recommended that each person takes two litres of water per day. So, a family of five would require 10 litres of water per day. The eucalyptus tree requires 90 litres of water per day. That is the water intake of 45 Kenyans. Majority of Kenyans do not even meet the two litres requirement, not because they do not want to, but because they cannot access that water. As a country, it would be very unfortunate for us to continue allowing that tree to be planted next to our riverbeds and water sources, knowing that it is taking up water, which would be of greater use to our people. Secondly, that tree causes a lot of soil degradation. An acre of land in Kenya would fit around 3,000 trees. A quick math of what I have just mentioned would mean 270,000 litres of water being taken up per day on that particular area of soil. That will cause a lot of soil degradation even to the neighbouring pieces of land because the roots of the eucalyptus tree stretch onto other pieces of land. Eucalyptus trees are causing a lot of soil degradation in our country. Thirdly, I want to speak to the biodiversity loss in regard to the tough decomposition of eucalyptus leaves. Unlike many other trees whose leaves decompose and become manure for the soil, the eucalyptus leaves do not decompose. So, they are not of any benefit to the soil in that area. They affect the flora and fauna of the particular area. I want to speak about its effect on the water quality. As I have said, the eucalyptus tree sucks in a lot of water thus affecting the surface water. It takes up all the surface water. The surface water normally has a lot of nitrogen and phosphorus, which is important for soil nutrients. We again lose it because of that particular tree. In regards to the local climate, the eucalyptus tree is not beneficial to us. In fact, it causes desertification. With those many remarks, I hope we have convinced this House that we need to amend this Bill to ensure that never again should our water sources dry up because of the eucalyptus tree. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I submit and second."
}