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{
    "id": 93786,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/93786/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 335,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musyimi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 95,
        "legal_name": "Mutava Musyimi",
        "slug": "mutava-musyimi"
    },
    "content": "We also noted that there is human and livestock population increase. I am not sure that, as a country, we are saying enough about the increase of human population. I hope that, some day, we will begin to take note because that will have its implications down the pipe sooner than later. We have also been informed about the human-wildlife conflict, the issue of compensation, the whole question of trans-boundary resource management and the problem of deforestation. We need to have monies to monitor what is happening. While I am still on that, I wish to observe that the absorption capacity of this Ministry has been affected by delays in the Exchequer. It is the same story that we are hearing in other Ministries. We are, therefore, recommending that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance expedites Exchequer releases to these Ministries and Departments to enable them to complete approved programmes. We also observed that the Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management legal frameworks has been pending for a rather long time. We have talked about the human- wildlife conflict. This issue is not being sufficiently addressed and, again, of course, there is the whole issue of insufficient funds. A point has been made to increase the forest cover in five water towers and other forest areas so that we can begin to secure water sources and many other benefits that will come when our five water towers have been reclaimed and reforested. We have talked about the need to reduce resource degradation and minimize over-exploitation and extinction of forests because there is the whole issue of carbon credit for this country. More attention needs to be given to this. We are not hearing enough of this from the Ministry. There is insufficient civic competence that is being given to our people so that they can benefit from the upcoming facility. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is, of course the problem of wood products. One of the things that the Minister told us - and which we took him to task - was that there is a Cabinet Paper that has been sitting for nearly two years that is seeking authority to harvest sections of our forests that are now mature. That matter has not been given attention by the Cabinet. We have been importing timber and we stand to lose those forests once they get to a certain age. That does not make any sense. I think it is important that the Cabinet be seized of the need to give the necessary approvals so that we can, at least, have some timber and stop using our own limited resources to import timber from around the region. With that in mind, I would like to make, on behalf of my Committee the following recommendations: One, that the Government, through the Cabinet, issues a lifting ban on logging in order to generate additional revenue for Kenya Forests Service. As at now, a total of 39,000 hectares is ready for harvesting, including over-mature plantations all valued close to Kshs40 billion. If not harvested, that wood will rot and go to waste and that does not make very good economic sense. Secondly, the Ministry should maximize the opportunity presented by the Global Carbon Credit under the Convention of Biodiversity and Climate Change and the Carbon Credit should give more funding which will assist us in adaptation of mitigating effects of climate change and provide financial resources for forestry development in this country. Finally, the absorption capacity of this Ministry and the Government Department as a whole has been affected by delays in Exchequer releases and donor-funding. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance expedites Exchequer releases to this Ministry and, indeed, other"
}