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{
    "id": 389874,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/389874/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Abdalla",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 382,
        "legal_name": "Amina Ali Abdalla",
        "slug": "amina-abdalla"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, I wish to begin by apologizing for not having the card. I beg to read the following response: On 13th June, 2013 the Member for Mwatate, hon. Mwadime sought a Statement regarding the destruction of crops by elephants in Mosongori, Mwakinego, Godoma, Mwashuma and Mwachabo areas in Mwatate Constituency. In the Statement the hon. Member requested to be told what measures the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has taken so far to control the situation and indicate the number of households affected by this menace not only in Mwatate, but also in all parts of the country. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Mineral Resources is aware that elephants have been destroying crops in Mwatate Constituency. The following are the measures they have taken to address the matter: The KWS has deployed two special animal control units in the area. The two units are from the Community Wildlife Service (CWS) office in Voi. The units have been facilitated with five vehicles that assist in the management of human-wildlife conflict in all areas within the constituency. In addition, the KWS has been using choppers and husky light aircrafts to drive away elephants from the community areas back to the parks and sanctuaries. In order to minimize human-wildlife conflict in Mwatate Constituency, the KWS is currently implementing two fencing projects in the area. The first one is the Mwakitao- Ndii electric fence, which is 65 kilometres long. So far, 35 kilometres of this fence have been completed and the remaining 30 kilometres will be completed in the next one year. The second fence, which is supposed to cover Bura-Kasigau area is currently being marked and aligned. This fence will take a further one-and-a-half years to complete. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Mineral Resources has facilitated the KWS to develop and maintain a national database on human-wildlife conflict and we have been given the number of cases of human-wildlife conflict in the whole country from 2009 to the present, and specifically for the whole of Taita Taveta District, which includes Mwatate. The cases for Taita Taveta County are as follows: With regard to crop destruction, there were 74 cases in 2009; 26 cases in 2010; 53 cases in 2011; 325 cases in 2012; and 134 cases in 2013. As a long-term measure, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill, 2013 will address the issue of compensation for damage by wildlife on crops. As you are aware, current regulations on compensation do not cover compensation for loss incurred by farmers when wildlife destroys their crops. The draft Bill that will be brought before this House addresses this aspect. In conclusion, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Mineral Resources wishes to reiterate that human-wildlife conflict has been a major concern in Taita Taveta County and at the national level as reported cases between 2009 and 2013 are over 8,144. The Minister undertakes to address the menace of destruction of crops through the new Bill that will be coming before the House in the nearest future. Hon. Speaker, I wanted to raise an issue that you and many hon. Members have raised. They have said before that they must be called to appear before the Committee to discuss statements that they seek. In my Committee, I have adopted a rule that if the Statement sought is very clear and we are able to get a clear answer from the Ministry, we just agree and come before this House to read it. However, when the Statement is detailed and requires a lot of input, or if we disagree with the Ministry’s response, we The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}