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{
    "id": 616800,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/616800/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 117,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kiptanui",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 52,
        "legal_name": "Jackson Kiplagat Kiptanui",
        "slug": "jackson-kiptanui"
    },
    "content": "and La Nina . When it comes to adaptation to these climatic changes, those who conserve the environment and those who destroy it will all feel its effects. Therefore, we should all be ready and willing to conserve this environment. I come from Elgeyo Marakwet County. When it comes to environmental conservation, I believe we are among the leading counties in this country. Our forest cover is over 20 per cent. The main challenge we have is that as much as we have maybe the largest or second largest forest cover in the country, the local community is not benefiting from this resource. We conserve the environment, especially the forest, but when plantations are mature and ready for harvesting, you find that investors from other areas of this country are given first priority and licence to harvest this forest. After harvesting these trees, these investors do not plant others. They destroy our road network and leave it in a very bad state. They do not even construct one classroom or dispensary. They do not give bursaries and that is why I support the provision in Part IV of this Bill which talks about incentives for increasing forest and tree cover. I also support Part V which talks about community participation. Once this Bill is passed, investors will be required to share the benefits with the local community. This Bill has given options on what the investors and those who benefit from the forest are required to do for the locals, including improving infrastructure, schools and other social amenities. My view is as much as we are passing this Bill, first priority should be given to the local community when it comes to harvesting of this resource. Another issue of concern is that some of the facilities we have in our forested areas do not have title deeds. In Elgeyo Marakwet County, we have over 23 schools without title deeds. We have dispensaries and trading centres. These facilities were given allotment letters by the previous regimes. It is my wish that the current Government moves ahead to formalise and issue them with title deeds because they were given allotment letters by a government. Indeed, what the previous government did should be honoured by the current regime. If, indeed, they respect what the other regimes did then in future they will also be respected. Hon. Deputy Speaker, we have people who have been living in forests for quite a number of years. As we pass this Bill, we should consider the issue of forest evictees. We should 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."
}