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{
    "id": 687928,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/687928/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 81,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "It is critical that as a nation, we ensure that our forests are protected. I live in one of the most important water towers in this country which is Cherangany Water Towers. I actually live in the East and the West side of the tower. That is a very important facility for us in Elgeyo-Marakwet County and it is important also for the people of Tans Nzoia, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega counties and up to Lake Victoria that the indigenous forest in Embobut and Cherangany as a whole is protected. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also important to point out that this does not extinguish the rights of forest dwellers and people who have lived in the forest for many years. In countries like South America, they have now found ways of communities co- existing with the forest. One of the reasons as to why Embobut Forest was destroyed - because I saw it since when I was a child until I have grown up - it is because the forest was presented to the public as an enemy of the public. The Government uses force to molest the indigenous communities that live around and within the forest instead of looking at the general public as a partner to the protection of the forest. Instead of ensuring that the local communities are direct beneficiaries of the forest, it is presented as though they are the enemies. It is like the forest is being protected on behalf of other people elsewhere. Stories will be told by political leaders here of harvesting trees which are allocated by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). In some situations in the past, some situations have improved and I want to recognize the efforts that are being made by the current Director General of the KFS. For a long time, you protected a forest in your area, planted trees, participated in ensuring that you improve the forest cover; but on the day of harvesting, some commercial harvesters come from as far as 100 kilometers away from your home, cut the trees, leave without employing the locals, saw millers who have no connection with local people will harvest trees in the area and the schools in that area are not assisted in any way. It is important that in the new Constitution and the new law, communities are recognized as part and parcel of partners of protection of the forest. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, forest dwellers like the Ogiek, Sengwer and the Bonis - it is important that they are recognized; that having been the indigenous people who lived within the forest before the colonial government came and gazetted that forest, they should also be co-joined in the management of the forest. There are new methods where people can live with forest cover increasing that cover without destroying it by adopting methods and mechanisms that ensure you enhance the forest cover. For example, the rules that you cannot do farming there; that you cannot do grazing in certain areas and, instead, you can adopt methods like bee keeping and other methods that will ensure that the forest is also enhanced. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we continue implementing this law, I want to ensure that the people of Embobut forest, the small indigenous communities in Mau forest, the people who live in Mount Kenya and other parts are going to be partners with the Kenya Forest Service in the management of the forest for the good of this generation and the generations to come. 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."
}