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"id": 1516319,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
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"speaker": {
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"legal_name": "Abass Sheikh Mohamed",
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"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, climate change is here with us. It has affected all parts of this country adversely and the only way we can help is to have a proper programme for afforestation. We have so many programmes for youth and women that are on course in the country. If this is well planned and the youth are engaged in the afforestation programmes in every part of the country, the same farms can now divert it for afforestation while they are still being paid. They can produce seedlings where they can to do the watering. In the past, we used to have compulsory afforestation programmes, where every household had to plant some trees. As a result, we saw many trees growing up, especially in the upper centres. This same programme should be brought back. Our approach should be the indigenous trees because they will not need much water and will resist drought and climatic changes. If we have some exotic trees, then it will not do very well because many indigenous trees have been replaced. Madam Temporary Speaker, northern Kenya suffers most of the deforestation because of refugee camps. In this part of the country with frequent drought, most of the trees are dying. The trees that are still surviving, the refugees are cutting them and drying them. Therefore, the land has been left bare. We do not mind having refugees because if they have a problem in their countries, we can still accommodate them. However, the problem is that the United Nations Refugees Agency and all others, like the Department of Refugees and Foreign Affairs, should have programmes to help the locals to do some stations. Every three cuts, then they should replace the other one so that at least we can maintain the forest cover in those areas. As it is now, it has just become a bare land. We also need to inculcate the idea of reforestation and afforestation in schools. When children are still young, they must be shown them what it means to have trees so that they can nurture them and have the feeling of the importance of having trees everywhere. There should be school competitions on afforestation. The schools which are well afforested should be rewarded. The schools should be paid a certain amount of money so that they can produce more trees, have forested schools and stop the desertification of those areas. The biggest challenge we have is settlements. The population is increasing by the day and many people need land. Therefore, they decide to settle everywhere without planning. If you go to other countries, there are specific production systems for every area. If it is a place for farming, then it is only for agriculture. Settlements and houses have their places unlike Kenya, where everybody settles where he/she wants. This must stop. We must have proper planning for people to settle. I know there is a population boom. The population is increasing by the day, but we need to preserve our forests. However, people are now encroaching on forests. If you look at the Karura Forest now, people are building houses. They say that we could maintain the forest. It is not possible. Once you have made the encroachment, trees are cut and everybody wants to settle in the best place in Karura Forest. 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."
}