Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 820225,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/820225/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 343,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kasipul, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Charles Ong’ondo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13366,
        "legal_name": "Charles Ong'ondo Were",
        "slug": "charles-ongondo-were-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for the opportunity. I will start by congratulating my able Chair for the way he has undertaken his duty. We have traversed almost all the forest covers within the country. That is why we have presented a very convincing Report with regard to the same. When it comes to issues of conservation, I support the Government for its efforts. By the way, if you go to the Mau Forest during the evictions, if you see the Leader of the Majority Party in the Senate dashing into his Probox and going away, it can tell you how serious we are in the committee. The only thing which I have noted in Kenya - which now brings issues with regard to the forests - is that the appetite Kenyans have for land is so big. That is what brings about deforestation within the country. The eviction was in order. The procedure was not. You need to prepare the community. You need to address the alternative sides, the compensation issues and who gave out the titles which they claim to have. It also reminds me - and there I support His Excellency the President – when we went to the coast on environmental issues, someone has a title deed of 90 acres in the sea. The law allows for reclamation of land. We have to look at such issues. We also need to look at riparian areas, even within Nairobi. They are grabbed by tycoons. Why do you go for the “small fish” and leave the tycoon? That is why in our Report, in Recommendation No.22, we said give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to Jesus what belongs to Jesus. That is why we even recommended for a very serious officer - the board Chair – to be investigated for conflict of interest. It is something very serious. When you go to church, you are husband and wife. When it comes to business, you disown that. That is why we stated that the same investigation be carried out without favouritism and action be taken. One thing which impressed me for the first time in the House is the stand which we took on the amendment because it was issue-based. It was not about the St. Mary’s but about the conservation. I sum up by saying that I support my Committee Report in totality."
}