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{
"id": 1496023,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496023/?format=api",
"text_counter": 408,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Yes, we have serious professionals. I want to thank him. I wish he was the person who seconded the Motion because he would have added a lot of value to the debate. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I join my colleagues in thanking Hon. Mayaka for bringing this Amendment Bill. You and I have been in this House for long. You are aware that it is not easy to get a Private Member’s Bill going through this House and, more so, for a first time Member who has been here for two years. So, Hon. Mayaka, congratulations. This is a big milestone. I can assure you that if you remain in this House for a longer period, many of your bills will go through and become Acts of Parliament. So, I encourage and thank you for the effort you have put in coming up with this Amendment Bill. Having listened to the debate, I agree with Hon. Members that eucalyptus trees have serious adverse effects on the environment. At the same time, they also have some benefits. I must confirm that when I was a small boy, my father grew one hectare of eucalyptus trees. Anytime there was need to pay school fees, we would cut some trees and sell them. Within a very short time, new trees would sprout again. As of today, that small farm still has traces of those trees. We cut them last year because they had made the whole area dry. So, when people say that they have negative effects to the environment, I agree. Why do people plant those trees? They plant them for economic benefits because they make money out of them. As I said, my father would cut and sell them so as to get money for school fees. There are several reasons why some people plant those trees. They plant them to make money. The trees are also a source of firewood and building materials. The timber that is used for roofing in many parts of the country is from eucalyptus trees. Due to lack of education, many people have no idea that, that plant makes the area dry. That is why Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) needs to come up with an alternative species of trees that will provide the same benefits in terms of firewood, income and building materials, but do not negatively have an impact to the environment. This debate is very timely because COP29, where environmental issues are being discussed, is taking place. Due to the effects of global warming, we should plant trees so as to reduce carbon in the environment. At the same time, that can be a money-making venture. As I said earlier, I watched this debate in the morning. I agree with the Hon. Members who have said that those who have hugely contributed to the serious pollution in our environment should pay. So, the idea of financing the fight against climate change should be actualised. I got very worried when I saw that those who have hugely contributed to the pollution like China, India and United States (US) were not in attendance. As a House, we need to support this Bill. We also need to encourage KEFRI, which is mandated to deal with issues of forestry, to come up with alternative species of trees. That way, we will help this country and make sure that our farmers do not suffer. A Member of this House has already reported that she is a farmer and grows eucalyptus trees to make money. So, as we avoid planting them, we need an alternative so that she can continue making money. If we go in that direction, we will help this country. I appreciate and support this amendment Bill. How I wish we can fast-track it so that it gets to the Third Reading and becomes law. That way, we will stop complaining about eucalyptus trees and, more so, when they are planted along our river banks. Hon. Temporary Speaker, with those many remarks, I support."
}