Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 660738,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/660738/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 264,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Okong’o",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 948,
        "legal_name": "Kennedy Mong'are Okong'o",
        "slug": "kennedy-mongare-okongo"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, from the outset, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Mover of this Bill who is the Senate Majority Leader. I still want to realign this to give effect to Article 69 of our Constitution. I have seen a number of issues which need to be catered for at an appropriate time. For instance, the proposed Kenya Forest College should be enhanced to have effect especially to counties. To achieve this, we should have campuses in every county so that it can be in line with devolved functions of our governments. Madam Temporary Speaker, we have had the same laws, especially The Forest Act, which gives effect to the operations of the KFS. However, we have had problems especially where indigenous trees and species have not been taken care of effectively. I hope that this Bill will not just be another Act of Parliament which will gather dust on the shelves. Secondly, you will realise that despite the fact that we have plenty of rainfall, Kenya is among the countries which have not attained the internationally required forest cover of 10 per cent. As Sen. Murungi said, this is an issue that we need to sensitise our people about, especially at county levels and schools, so that we work on this very important area which takes care of our livelihoods. Madam Temporary Speaker, the issues of forest personnel and others are very important especially to areas where there is conflict. Like where I come from, we experience cattle rustling between Bomet and Nyamira counties. The forest cover in that region is wide and is densely populated. I suggest that we establish a college and post well trained personnel to protect that forest. When cattle are stolen from the neighbouring communities, they are driven inside this forest. Youth from both sides could be trained as forest personnel. This will reduce cattle rustling in those regions because they would be engaged. Madam Temporary Speaker, as Sen. Murungi said, forests are taken care of by county governments. We all know agriculture is a devolved function. The County Executive Committee (CEC) members in charge of forests should come up with policies to operationalize this Act in county governments. Some leaders in this country have taken drastic actions to protect our forests. For example, the late John Michuki as a Minister for Environment took care of our forests. We have blue gum trees which consume a lot of water. We also expect leaders in this The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}