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{
    "id": 687955,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/687955/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 108,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13156,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo-jnr"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the report on the mediated version of the Forest Conservation and Management Bill in an attempt to enforce Article 69 of the Constitution. I have a question on the amendment that the Senate had proposed. In my own view - though I can be corrected - the wisdom of the Senate including Clause72( 1) (a), where we had proposed that the relevant counties will at all times be furnished with pertinent copies of all relevant documents maintained by the Chief Conservator of Forests, which was not agreed upon, raises questions. The proposal that a record be kept by the Chief Conservator of Forests and accessible to the public is not the same and cannot be the same with the view that the Chief Conservator of Forests would submit records of forests cover and other records to counties. My view is supported by a resolution of this Senate that forest management be devolved in its entirety to counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, although our Committee in its wisdom acceded to that amendment, the amendment does not satisfy that Clause that the county governments are given a role. From the reading of the Bill, the Chief Conservator of Forests is an officer of the National Government appointed by the National Government and reporting to the National Government. The portion where this function is now devolved to counties, the Chief Conservator of Forests should have been given a responsibility to report to the respective county governments. The resolutions we have made; devolving this function and management to counties has been given with one hand and taken away with the other in the refusal by the Committee to accede to the amendment to Clause 72. Otherwise, I am happy that this Bill is now out of the way. Article 69 can now be enforced. There are very few counties that have achieved Article 69 in terms of maintaining 10 per cent of tree cover. Nyeri is at 17 per cent, Machakos is at two per cent and Makueni is at 11 per cent. That is why we are fighting with people who are harvesting sand as if the world is coming to an end. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, I hope that this Bill and this person called the Chief Conservator of Forests would not become the chief logger. I am on record as having requested the Committee to summon the Cabinet Secretary on the lifting of the moratorium on harvesting of trees. That request is still outstanding. While that was going on, some people who are known invaded the Mau Forest and are continuing to log. I hope 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."
}