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{
    "id": 820655,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/820655/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 93,
    "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": "Having listened to hon. Members, I would like to say at the outset that this Report is a result of the inquiry that we did into forest resource management and logging activities in the country. However, by the time we completed writing this Report, the issue of Mau Forest was not as emotive as it currently is. I assure hon. Members that this Committee is currently seized of the issue of the Mau complex. On Monday next, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) in charge of environment and forestry will appear before our Committee so that we can start discussions on how to handle matters of Mau complex, so that this House can be seized of the matter comprehensively. The body which is seized of the matter of managing the forest in the country is KFS. The KFS needs to be properly funded. Issues of management need to be dealt with. One of the highlights of the Committee is that the current plantation forest should be converted into indigenous forests so that the private sector and the other Kenyans can have an opportunity of engaging in commercial forest activities. During our interaction with this matter, we noted major conflicts in the mandates of the KFS, the Kenya Water Towers Agency and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The mandates of the three agencies are in forests. The Committee recommends that the Executive should streamline the mandate of the three agencies to mitigate the perceived conflict so as to enhance their effectiveness. The issue of the composition of the KFS Board was also raised. Under the current Forest Act 2016, we have provision for ensuring that loggers or saw millers are given slots in KFS. I remember the Leader of the Majority Party highlighting the issues of Mr. Rai, who is one of the biggest saw millers sitting in the KFS Board. Therefore, as a Committee, we shall recommend amendment to the Forest Act 2016 so that people who take part in depletion of our forests do not sit in the KFS Board, which is mandated to preserve forests. Hon. Speaker, allow me to register the Committee’s appreciation to your office and that of the Clerk for the facilitation during the investigation into this matter. I also wish to appreciate the House for contributing to this very important Motion. I also wish to sincerely appreciate the Committee members for putting in a lot of time and effort during this investigation. I will not forget all the stakeholders that we engaged, whose submissions have informed this Committee. Finally, allow me to also thank the Executive for listening and acting on all the matters that have been highlighted by this Committee, starting with the issues of logging. The action that has been taken with regard to the issue of logging was initiated by this Committee. Subsequently, it was taken up by the Executive. When, as a Committee, we toured Mombasa’s Kibarani dumpsite the other day, we raised serious issues, including the issue of dumping solid waste into the Indian Ocean. Thereafter, the President requested the National Land Commission (NLC) to de-gazette all the land which had been seized in Kibarani. As late as yesterday, the National 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."
}