Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 503384,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/503384/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 157,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Barua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1529,
        "legal_name": "Ejidius Njogu Barua",
        "slug": "ejidius-njogu-barua"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to this important Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The law we are amending today came into force because of the realisation that environmental management and co-ordination was being done through very many sectoral laws. So, it was found necessary for the country, as part of the international community committed to environmental conservation and management, to come up with a framework law. That was one of the justifications, or rationale, for the enactment of the Act we are amending today. Historically, the process of this environmental law started with the National Environment Action Plan, after which the Environment Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) was put in place. I am saying this because it is important for us to appreciate the history and the issues that were considered before this framework Bill was enacted into law. The Bill recognised the role of public participation, every member of the community, every profession and the gender commitment. It is, therefore, important as we make these amendments to take cognisance of these issues. I support the views of hon. Gumbo, which he voiced at the beginning of this debate in terms of the procedures that should be followed as we discuss these important, complex and technical laws. It could have been very important and useful for the members of the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to have presented a report which would have guided other Members in the debate. However, I would like to be on record that this Committee had requested to be given at least two more days to have a report available. I want to assure the House that on Tuesday morning the report of the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will be available. The Members who will contribute to this Bill that afternoon will benefit from that report. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Bill devolves environmental management. It recognises the management of natural resources and environment at the county level. This is important because environmental resources are destroyed at the grassroots level. Having the County Environment Committee, which is all-inclusive, is going to be a very big positive for environmental management. The environment is one of the pillars of sustainable development agenda. The other two are economic and social pillars. So, if the environmental pillar is not seriously and carefully taken care of, it might lead to the collapse of the sustainable development agenda and make it difficult for us, as a nation, to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030. Some of the amendments proposed in this Bill are actually taking us backwards. I would like to support the views of hon. Ottichilo when he mentions about the abolition of 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."
}