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{
    "id": 1552720,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552720/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 49,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(Hon. (Dr.) Deborah Barasa): Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, and hon. Members, for giving us the opportunity to address the questions and concerns that were given to us. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kamuruana Hill Karaini, which is within Kangaita Forest Station, is located in Kirinyaga West Sub-county. It covers an area of 23.87 hectares composed of 14.7 hectares of Pinus patula, that is pine trees plantation and 9.17 hectares of bush and grasslands. It is detached from the main forest block of Kangaita Forest. With regards to harvesting in Kamuruana Hill, Karaini Forest, I wish to clarify that there is no tree harvesting activities being undertaken on this Hill. This can be confirmed by the latest satellite imagery and photos annexed (A) and (B). If and when this is going to take place, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) will be guided by the provision provided in the Kenya Forest Conservation and Management Act and any other relevant legislations, such as the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) 1999, Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Public Procurement and Assessment Disposal Act (PPADA) with strict adherence to meaningful public participation. With regards to the question about the measures the Government is implementing to assure local community of environmental safety, given the risk of deforestation in the context of climate change and its potential impact on the ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry is implementing strategic measures to guarantee environmental safety to the local communities. The measures are outlined in Section 48 of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016 and the National Environment Policy, 2013. For example, in fulfilment of the legal environmental requirements as stipulated in the EMCA 1999, under the Second Schedule, KFS undertook an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The Mount Kenya Forest Ecosystem Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Forest Plantations is annexed one. During the process of development of the EIA report, sufficient public participation was conducted, such as public participation report for the Mount Kenya Forest Ecosystem in Embu annexed two. The scope of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was impact identification, mitigation measures and environmental management plan during harvesting. Safety measures referred to Chapter 6 of Annex three on Potential Environmental and Social Impacts and Mitigation Measures. The ESIA also provides guidance on seedling production, planting, management of plantations, process for disposal of mature plantations, harvesting and decommissioning. You can refer to Chapter 5.8 on project activities and also provide for public participation in those areas. The KFS was subsequently issued with an EIA licence to undertake the harvesting with accompanying conditions, Annex four as attached. Harvesting operations of plantations in the country are guided by ESIA report on environmental and social safeguards. In order to address climate change and 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."
}