HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1517369,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1517369/?format=api",
"text_counter": 289,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Senators that have contributed have enriched this Bill. I would like to appreciate every one of them, from Sen. Cherarkey, Sen. Olekina, Sen. Cheruiyot, Sen. Wambua, Sen. Okenyuri, Sen. Maanzo, Sen. Munyi Mundingi, Sen. Dullo, Sen. Miraj, Sen. Veronica Maina, Sen. Wamatinga, Sen. Kisang, Sen. Abass, Sen. Wakili Sigei, yourself, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Sen. (Prof) Kamar, Sen. Omogeni, Sen. Onyonka, Sen. Joyce Korir, Sen. Kajwang, Sen. Sifuna, Sen. Mungatana, Sen. Beatrice Ogola, and Sen. Mariam Omar. I look forward to working with every one of the Senators to ensure that we introduce the clauses that they have proposed. Before I move to reply, I would just like to highlight some of the contributions that have been made by my colleague Senators. Sen. Cherarkey intends to introduce a clause to expand the vegetation cover of the Kenyan mass land to 30 per cent. He also proposed that instead of planting two trees for every one cut down, we adopt the trees to ensure they reach maturity. That was a typo or an oversight in the Bill. I do not think that is the way we should go. If you cut one tree, you should plant more than three trees. Sen. Cheruiyot also requested that logging regulations should require that only mature trees are harvested, which I thought was a very good idea. Sen. Cherarkey also suggested that we utilise the prison land for agroforestry, allowing inmates to plant, adopt and maintain the trees. He also suggested that we introduce community service orders, where offenders are assigned to tree planting and maintaining as a project, which I also thought was a good idea. Sen. Olekina opposed the idea that whenever a tree is felled, it must be replaced in a location designated by Kenya Forest Services (KFS). The Senator objects to this requirement arguing that it introduces unnecessary bureaucracy. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you had also mentioned that. He proposed an alternative approach where an individual who cuts down a tree should immediately plant two to three trees in the same location rather than having to wait for KFS to designate an area. He also proposed that we introduce a clause to take care of the Mathenge plant, which is a very destructive plant in most of the Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) areas. There were also several propositions to the week for planting trees. Sen. (Prof.) Kamar, Sen. Olekina and several other Senators suggested that one week is not enough. We should have a tree planting and growing month. That is something we will have to discuss and see if we can include in this Bill. There was also the popular suggestion that we should introduce a curriculum in our schools where we teach our children so that we can inculcate in the culture of planting and growing trees. That was also a good idea. Sen. Cheruiyot proposed that we consider integrating tree planting practices in special occasions such as when heads of state and dignitaries visit Kenya. Sen. Wambua wanted us to find out a way to include provisions in the Bill either expressly or implicitly, that ensures leaders take a leading role in environmental conservation efforts."
}