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{
    "id": 1499471,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499471/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 334,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui West WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Edith Nyenze",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. Let me take this opportunity to also congratulate my colleague, Hon. Irene Mayaka, for coming up with this Motion on the Environmental Management and Coordination (Amendment) Bill. Eucalyptus has many advantages. My colleagues have talked about it being used as a medicinal tree. It is also used for commercial purposes. It grows and matures very fast, therefore, it is a very good commercial plant for timber and firewood. However, it also has its disadvantages and that is why the Mover of the Motion has proposed the amendment. The tree has a very high transpiration rate. That is why it makes soil to dry and lose its fertility. It is also incompatible with preservation of diversity. That is why the Bill talks about controlling the growth of the plant, especially near water catchment areas. The concerned ministry should advise Kenyans accordingly, because when this tree was introduced from South Africa, it was said that it was a very fast-growing tree and that it would really be very beneficial, especially as a commercial plant. Many people planted it because it grows very fast and also makes an area very green, especially arid areas. The concerned ministry should conduct research and find a replacement to this one tree. I remember in some parts of the arid areas of Kenya, a plant known as Mathenge was planted and it was said it would improve the area by making the environment green but eventually its disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Research should be done so that we can know what tree will replace eucalyptus. The research will also enable us know the best tree to grow in semi-arid and arid areas. Since the Government has a plan of growing over 15 billion trees, I suggest that we start removing eucalyptus from riparian areas and replace them with the right plant which would actually preserved water in and around those areas. This would also go a long way in improving our environment, ensuring that Kenya can grow good crops, and ensure we move from food insufficiency to having enough food in our country. The right research should be done, so that we plant and replace with the right plants. Otherwise, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support. Thank you."
}