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{
    "id": 503372,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/503372/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 145,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Gikaria",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2489,
        "legal_name": "David Gikaria",
        "slug": "david-gikaria"
    },
    "content": "Before we came to this Parliament, there was a law which was passed to reduce the weight of polythene papers. Sadly, it was removed. If you look at our environment, polythene papers have really destroyed most of our regions. Part of the amendments that we will be bringing, we should try to see whether we can re-introduce the polythene paper issue and of course, protect our wetlands. I visited China and I was told that they passed a ruling in court that brought down a 98 storey building that had been built on a wetland. That is the direction that this country needs to take, so that we do not just allow people who look at the environment, they see a space and all they want to do is put up some development on that space. We need to appreciate that there are places where we put apartments, places where we do farming and places where we do forestry, so that these natural resources that God gave us can be preserved. The Bill is going to be in tandem with the new Constitution. As has been said, it is creating a very sound environmental practice internationally. We are required to be in conformity with issues to do with climate change internationally. This Bill has brought out that very clearly. Has it removed public participation by removing the public complaints mechanism? No. Environmental issues used to be handled in an office, a department and an Authority. The public was never involved at any one time. With the creation of the County Environment Committees, which the governor has been given an opportunity to form, it has made it very clear that public participation is mandatory. The public will be able to give views on whether certain forests need to be cleared. In the past, a Government official would just sit in some place and decide to clear a forest. The consequences are that the same public suffers after clearing a forest. So, public participation has not been removed by this amendment. In fact, it has been enhanced. That is the most important thing. As hon. Nyenze has said, and I am in agreement with him for the first time, the involvement of the youth at the county is very important as regards these amendments. The more we involve women and the youth, the more employment opportunities we will create and places where people can earn their living. On cooperating with the State organs in terms of increasing--- It is important that every person must cooperate with State organs so that we can enforce and improve environmental management issues. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, on the right to access information, in the past, it used to be a Government document. An office is shut and you cannot access any information that you require. This amendment has brought forth that you can walk to any office and request for information. One of the other issues that have been brought by this amendment is that the Cabinet Secretary, despite being given other powers, is obliged by this amendment to bring environmental issue reports to Parliament. It has actually specified when we are in session and when we are not in session; it has specified within 21 days. I think it is important for us to have these reports so that we can also know that the Cabinet Secretary is mandated by these amendments to bring these reports to Parliament and of course share with the governors."
}