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{
    "id": 1495989,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495989/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 374,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nyeri Town, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Duncan Mathenge",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the amendment Bill by Hon. Irene. It is true that the eucalyptus tree has been studied by the Kenya Forest Service. The issues surrounding its effects on water sources are not disputed. As a country, it is imperative that we plan better and implement meticulously. There is no doubt in our minds that electrification in this country has largely been supported by poles from the eucalyptus trees. Those poles also offer affordable fencing in our rural smallholder farms. Due to its fast growth rate and maturity, our timber industry is largely supported by those trees. We cannot wish away their benefits to the economy and rural livelihoods. In rural Nyeri, households that use firewood depend on those trees. It is paramount that we come up with a comprehensive land use plan so that eucalyptus trees can be grown in designated areas or regions. It is easy to look at the negative effects, but it is imperative that we also strike the necessary balance so that we do not upset livelihoods, especially of vulnerable members of our society. I encourage Hon. Mayaka to pursue this and consult more experts. She should not only involve the national Government, but also the county governments, in terms of setting aside zones. In my area of Nyeri and Mount Kenya region, our tea factories largely rely on wood to process tea. Quite a number of those tea factories have leased lands, some in very unsuitable areas like Kieni, where eucalyptus trees should be banned. The area covers 52 per cent of Nyeri County, and it is semi-arid. On the other side, we have Tetu, Othaya and Mathira, whose economies are also dependent on tea growing and processing. Therefore, a delicate balance, on both the environmental effects and the economic use that the eucalyptus trees contribute in our country, needs to be properly established. The environmental impact assessment reports on areas where the eucalyptus tree is grown on large scale basis ought to inform the direction that we will eventually take in amending the Environmental Act. It is critical that we do not upset areas that are largely dependent on that tree without providing a viable alternative to its contribution and economic use. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support."
}