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{
    "id": 294104,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/294104/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 411,
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    "content": "feedback from various stakeholders - in the last three years, the new Bill which fortunately is being processed through the Attorney-General’s Office, will be tabled before the Cabinet and will be brought to this House for discussion - we have looked at that matter amongst very many other reforms that will be enacted. That issue has been looked into and it will clarify a number of the inadequacies that were in the current law. With regard to the clarification sought by hon. Letimalo on whether it is an offence to kill wildlife, yes, it is. As an Assistant Minister for Forestry and Wildlife, I can say that it is an offence to kill any wildlife. It is also an offence for the wildlife to kill human beings. The reason why my Ministry has held the services is because we had to put a balance and make sure that we minimize as much as possible the human/wildlife conflict. Of course, you need to understand the challenges we experience. You will realise that a number of dispersal areas and wildlife corridors that were for wildlife have been inhabited by human beings. These are the challenges we face, as a Ministry, as we go along. But nevertheless, we will try as much as possible to start sensitization programmes with communities and put up electric fences in the very hotspot areas that have been identified. Above that, we will come up with a team of patrol almost all over the country who can be contacted and they will respond. If any Member here has any information about any area where our Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) have not been responding, I think the only reason I am in this House is to assist them so that I can make them do their job. With regard to the clarification sought by hon. Mungatana on insurance, yes, indeed, I think that is a factor we have looked into. This is not considered in the current law. However, in the coming one, we have even proposed that issues of compensation should be handled much more by an insurance firm. Those conservancies that earn money from wildlife that belongs to the Government of Kenya should contribute towards compensation and make sure that they reduce the human/wildlife conflict. I hope that when that Bill comes to this House, we will make sure that we relook at these issues so that we make sure that the inadequacies that have been identified by my Ministry and all the stakeholders are addressed. On the issue raised by hon. Khalwale about underwriting the bills, I remember one time when hon. Imanyara brought an issue about underwriting a bill in this House, we relooked and felt that it was not possible under the current law. However, my Ministry through the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has tried to help where it can. Probably, this is an issue we can discuss and see how best we can assist. However, the current law is completely inadequate as I said in my Statement because it does not look at the compensation with regard to underwriting of these bills. But I hope that we can look at this when that law comes here. I hope that before the life of this Parliament comes to an end, that Bill would have been finalized. It is already out of our hands, it is in the Attorney-General’s Chambers and we hope that it will go through the other processes and be tabled in this House. With regard to the issue raised by hon. Mututho, yes, I think I have already addressed that. As far as we are concerned, we have already finalized the draft and presented it to the Attorney-General. We hope that in a couple of weeks, it will go to the Cabinet and then, it will end up in this House."
}