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{
    "id": 687318,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/687318/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 83,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "So, I support this Bill and I want to ensure that in its implementation, there is proper public participation, proper compensation of parties that have given way to those forests to ensure their protection. There should be proper inclusion for such parties in the ultimate benefits. For example, products and benefits that come with eco-tourism must first benefit the local community before benefitting the rest of the country. That is already covered by the Constitution and this law comes into place to provide the structural framework of participation of the counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, now that counties are going to be participants in the management of the forest, there is no reason why local interests are not going to be factored into this law. I hope it will not be an avenue for local political leaders to now say it is their forest and they can destroy it. We must appreciate that forest cover is a global requirement in terms of fighting global warming and restoring the ozone layer. Our Embobut Forest has a responsibility of benefitting the whole world. Therefore, we, as a nation, must ensure that we benefit from carbon credit under the new law that we passed here on matters of climate change. There must be cross referencing between the climate change law and the forest law to ensure that our communities benefit in terms of employment and resources. We must invest a lot of those resources in the management of our forests. We want to see that forest scouts or guards are people who were born and brought up around that area. The locals should see that their sons and daughters are employed in Kakamega Forest because they live around Kakamega and they know that their forest is an important contributor to the income of the people of Kakamega and Nandi counties. This is because Kakamega and Nandi counties co-share the forest. Tinderet Forest must benefit the people of that area. Mau Forest must benefit the people of Narok, Bomet and Kericho counties. Once people realize that the benefit is accruing to them, they will have no reason not to support the protection and regeneration of our forests. I support and I propose that going forward, the structures that are being put in place must ultimately reflect the interest of the local community. This is because this law does not supersede the constitutional requirement that the rights of local communities are protected, particularly those who call forests of this Republic their home."
}