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{
    "id": 1516305,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1516305/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 204,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13582,
        "legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
        "slug": "wahome-wamatinga"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to also contribute to this important amendment Bill that has been moved by the Senator for Garissa. Indeed, environmental conservation, afforestation, taking care of climate change and ensuring that our future generations get a sustainable environment is a responsibility that we have both legally and morally. Having said that, it cannot be overemphasized that climate change has mostly led third world countries in Africa to suffer the most. We have seen changes in rainfall patterns resulting into extreme droughts and floods. This has mostly affected children and women living in rural setups. It is also not lost to us that fundamentally most of African nations, including Kenya, failed to establish well-structured urban setups. Therefore, whenever there are disasters that have been occasioned by countries such as France, they suffer the most. I, therefore, take this opportunity to thank the Senator for Garissa for coming up with these amendments because this is what Kenyans are expecting from us. It is in this line that the Wamatinga Foundation, the one that I founded, established Club Toto in primary schools and Teens Club in secondary schools to encourage youngsters to take environmental protection and tree-planting and growing as their responsibility. We know that we have had this campaign by successive governments. However, an important misstep that we have continued to miss is that we plant trees, but we do not grow them. Many a time, we have gone on drives and mass planting of trees, but they are left at the mercy of the nature to mature. This is one of the major challenges. Therefore, we need a paradigm shift in the way we do it. We need to move from tree-planting to tree-growing. This can only happen if we embrace a culture that will encourage people to grow trees. I like what my fellow Nominated Senator, who is the future of Murang’a, has said. We must create incentives around tree planting, so that it does not only attract tax reliefs, but also ensure that corporates engage in a way that they will reduce their tax burden. This way, we will create enough incentives, so that we ensure that corporates participate in tree planting and growing and see that the trees get to maturity. 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."
}