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{
    "id": 649452,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/649452/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 112,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Barua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1529,
        "legal_name": "Ejidius Njogu Barua",
        "slug": "ejidius-njogu-barua"
    },
    "content": "The threat to environment and climate in general has already been manifested and the impact is being felt at the grassroots level. In some regions and areas where the Government cannot reach, there is active participation by the civil society. So, if we exclude the civil society, it will mean that the work that is being done in remote areas where the Government cannot reach is going to end. We will remain with a debilitated environment. In terms of global financing, the civil society is receiving a lot of money. In fact, it is receiving more money than the Government on climate change work. It is high time we recognised that large sum of money. It is high time we brought the civil society on board. Once we bring them on board, we can put them to account. Civil society organisations get a lot of money and the Government must take the initiative of ensuring that, that money is used for climate mitigation activities. At the moment, without casting aspersions, that financing is coming to civil society organisations and NGOs in particular, and is being used for individual work. Instead of saving the planet, we are enriching some few NGO actors. So, this representation is going to bring some sanity in terms of how NGOs operate in that area. In terms of coordination and solving problems, it is quite easy to identify the biggest network of NGOs working on climate change in Kenya and hence, it is going to be easy to get representation. In terms of Parliament, I support this amendment which replaces “Senate” with “Parliament”. Parliament includes the National Assembly and the Senate, and is the representative of the people. By so doing, the National Assembly is going to approve and make the views of the people we represent at the constituencies. The issues of the counties will be brought aboard by the Senate. So, I support this amendment. Finally, in terms of penalties, it is common knowledge in Kenya that we have enough laws in this country. But what is happening is that laws are there, but they are very easy to break because the penalties are cheap and affordable. So, the fine of Kshs10 million or five years imprisonment or both for violating the summons by the National Climate Change Council is to me, appropriate. The council, to be of use, must be given teeth. If the council does not have teeth, it means that the issues of climate will not be addressed properly in this country. The other issue is that the council should have a wide representation. It is good to be empowered because it is going to be the link between the various organisations of both the Government and the NGOs that are working on issues of climate change. As I conclude, I want to urge this House to take this issue very seriously because the rate at which the climate is being destroyed today is going to make the earth hotter by the day. If this thing goes unmitigated, this world will not be habitable for human beings. In due course, this world will just be habitable for reptiles. In the just concluded Climate Change (COP21) Conference in France which I participated, there was an agreement - which is a mediated version again - that you must enforce climate change mitigation to ensure that global warming does not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius. If we maintain that 1.5 degrees Celsius, it means that we are going to enhance the suitability of this world for our own existence as human beings. With those few remarks, I support this mediated version. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
}