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{
    "id": 1516301,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1516301/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 200,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Veronica Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "the community. Trees that also bring in income from the excess harvest they might have within the homestead. It is encouraged that everybody takes part in this exercise. Finally, we have a legislation that is encouraging even the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)-should we say our tax man to now give incentives to corporates and private entities that participate within their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandate in tree planting. If they demonstrate they have been able to do that they will have tax deductions. I hope someday we will see KRA advertising these incentives to attract investment and contribution from the corporate sector. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we know most of the time KRA is known for advertising for people to pay taxes. As a result, when anybody sees a KRA advert on the screen they shake and some even switch off the Television (TV) fearing that KRA is knocking at their doors. For once because I know they needed to mend that image and make it a little better, I hope they will seize this opportunity to now advertise incentives and help us mitigate the forest cover across the whole country. In fact, if they do a good job in advertising, you will be shocked to see that Safaricom will be the first in line to go out to do tree planting. We are happy to note now that Kenya Airways whom we have been discussing a lot about in this House and have also had a very heated debate on whether they should be allowed to continue existing- are now posting profits and not losses. It is good to see they have been turning around. I hope they continue to improve their service. We will see them in the lead ensuring that we have a forest cover. Corporates are going to account to the public on what they are doing even in tree planting in different counties. East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has been very strategic in the manner in which it is handling matters of environment. We want to see a better report from them in improving the tree cover in the counties. Of course, there are many other corporates and entities which are within the Republic of Kenya which can assist in making sure that we have tree planting programmes. They can also include the youths. Many entities may not even have people or enough seedlings to plant. Working with county and national Government and private entities, the youths can be engaged to do the tree planting nurseries. What has stopped us from doing that? Why can we not now then after this legislation is passed use it to ensure that our youths are engaged? I request the hon. Senator to ensure that in the crafting of this Bill, he incorporates how the energetic youths can be onboarded for tree planting and grooming nurseries in order to produce seedlings. Looking at the functions that have been assigned under Clause 8 of this Bill, and the service being entrusted with ensuring that they implement management plans; we want to see inclusion of youth and women in those plans. I have noted certain groups of women have been trying to establish the tree nurseries and we must encourage them. I ask the private entities to pick up those groups which are managing those tree nurseries and ensure that they are propped up, funded and paid for the time they are using to do the tree planting activities. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}