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{
    "id": 381121,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/381121/?format=api",
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    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you allow me, I would want to anchor this Motion within the provisions of Article 69 of the Constitution, which says:- “The State shall— (a) ensure sustainable exploitation, utilisation, management and conservation of the environment and natural resources, and ensure the equitable sharing of the accruing benefits;” Part “b” of the same article says that the State shall:- “work to achieve and maintain a tree cover of at least ten per cent of the land area of Kenya;” It goes on to say, in part “f,” that the State shall:- “establish systems of environmental impact assessment, environmental audit and monitoring of the environment;” And, finally, in part “h,” it says that the State shall:- “(h) utilise the environment and natural resources for the benefit of the people of Kenya.” Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is in this connection that I feel that unless we, as a country, are able to realize that our rivers will dry up unless they are protected from human settlement and other forms of encroachment and degradation, then as I have said, we are staring at an ecological crisis. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenya is a party to a number of international environmental protection agreements, notably, the Ramsar Convention that relates to the protection of wetlands. Again, looking at Article 2 (6) of our Constitution, it says that all international Agreements to which Kenya is a party are part of the law of this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are enough constitutional imperatives to compel this country, not only in the form of a Motion like this--- I believe this is one Motion which should also be translated into a legislation that can basically protect our wetlands. Our wetlands are our future. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, juxtaposing the need to protect our wetlands with the continued pressure for adequate food supplies for our people, then the more reason a Motion like this one and, perhaps, a legislation which may ensue along the same lines becomes extremely important. It is true that encroachment of our wetlands has not only interfered with the natural vegetation and biodiversity, but has caused serious pollution, including the ever increasing problem of persistent organic pollutants some of which are carcinogenic."
}