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{
    "id": 920965,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/920965/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 157,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, allow me to contribute in support of the Statement by Sen. Kihika. I request the Committee that will be looking into this Statement to explore ways in which this Government can zero rate the importation of timber for the moratorium to be extended indefinitely until we increase the forest cover in this country. The ban on logging that was put in place by the Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mr. Keriako Tobiko, has helped improve our environment. Pushing him to end the moratorium will be abetting corruption, destroying our environment and contributing to drought which is affecting our people. It is true that people who depended on timber are jobless. We can help those people by helping them import timber from neighbouring countries such as Tanzania that has a big forest cover. They can also plant their own trees and use them for commercial purposes. The Committee should not ask for the ban on logging to be lifted, but it should encourage Treasury to zero rate the importation of timber. That will enable countries that export timber to get an avenue of selling their products in this country. We must increase our forest cover. If we do not do so, we will perish. As the Senator for Narok County, I will continue ensuring that all the people who cut trees are put into jail. We recently intercepted a truck that was carrying about 1,000 cider posts. We all know that cider trees are endangered species. However, when those people went to court, they were only fined Kshs30,000 and they forfeited the trees. What is Kshs30,000? It is our environment that is important to us. We should zero rate the importation of timber in this country so as to create jobs for the people who are jobless. We should not lift the ban on logging."
}