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{
    "id": 818534,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/818534/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 333,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Maara, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kareke Mbiuki",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 79,
        "legal_name": "Japhet M. Kareke Mbiuki",
        "slug": "japhet-kareke-mbiuki"
    },
    "content": "proposed the prioritization of tree farming until challenges on timber harvesting were addressed and the KFS reformed accordingly. However, soon after, the Executive, through the Deputy President’s office, imposed a 90- day moratorium on timber harvesting. The aim of the moratorium was to allow enough time for the reassessment of the forest sector management to come up with a comprehensive recommendation on the reforms needed to enhance development of the sector in Kenya. Consequently, a taskforce comprising of 15 Members to look into the forest resource management and logging activities in Kenya was established on 26th February 2018. The move was highly welcome by the committee. Subsequently the 90-days moratorium was extended by a further 180 days, basically six months more. Rising out of the cry from the public on the drying rivers, excessive logging in the forests and key water towers and pursuant to Standing Order No. 216(5) (e ) and on its own motion, the committee embarked on an inquiry on the status of logging in the country. The inquiry was guided by the following objectives; one, to investigate the extent of the effects of logging and forest degradation in the country and two, to recommend strategies of achieving 20 per cent forest cover by 2030. You realise the Government has set 10 per cent forest cover by 2022 but as a committee we decided to raise the bar to allow 20 per cent forest cover by 2030. During the inquiry, the Committee was guided by the Constitution of Kenya, a Forest Conservation and Management Act No.34 of 2016 and the Forest (Charcoal) rules, 2009 as well as the National Assembly Standing Orders. The committee began its inquiry by scheduling visits to the Mau Forest Complex and the Aberdare Forest from 15th to 18th March, 2018 to assess the logging menace in those regions. It also met stakeholders in the sector on various dates in an effort to get to the root of the woes afflicting the management and conservation of forests in the country. The following are the stakeholders we met: The Timber Manufacturers Association (TMA), the Community Forest Associations (CFA), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the management and board of the Kenya Forest Service as well as Gatsby Africa. The committee had also an opportunity to meet and discuss issues of forest conservation and management with the governors of Nakuru and Nyandarua. This was in an effort to get to the root of the woes afflicting the management and conservation of forests in the country. While we were meeting with the Timber Manufacturers Association, we observed the following: 1. The Association comprised of private entities situated across the country, who are licensed saw millers by KFS. The organisation was founded in 1982 and has a national membership of 862 timber manufacturers and its membership was AGPO-compliant. 2. During their presentation, the TMA members decried the negative effect on their business as a result of the ban, which included— (i) The timber had become an illegal commodity. No movement permits were being issued. (ii) There was an imminent risk of food insecurity as the farmers were unable to clear the farms of felled trees to enable replanting through Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS). (iii) The processed timber at yards and sawmills all over the country could not be transported, leading to stalling of construction projects and a hike in prices of timber products. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}