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"id": 94156,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/94156/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Wamalwa",
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"speaker": {
"id": 148,
"legal_name": "Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa",
"slug": "eugene-wamalwa"
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"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also rise to support this Motion. I want to congratulate hon. Chachu for bringing a Motion that is far ahead of its time. Many years ago, when you heard of the issue of global warming or climate change, it sounded like something that should be out there in Kyoto and in Washington DC and other countries in the developed world. It sounded like an abstract thing that did not probably relate to us here in Kenya or in Africa but with time, the world has become truly a global village. Indeed, we know that the effect of global warming affects us here in Kenya and here in Africa just as much as it affects those in the North or South Pole. It is time we started thinking very seriously about these issues. As we embark on reforms in this country, we are in the process of implementing a new constitution that was passed by Kenyans on 4th August, 2010; a constitution that will form a basis for major reforms in the way we govern our country and in almost all sectors of our society, whether it is in the judiciary or the police. Time has come to look at the transport sector and to see that necessary reforms are put in place and the necessary legislative framework is provided to implement what needs to be done in order to deal with the threats that face us as human beings on this globe. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, when you talk about emissions, many years ago we had very few vehicles. In my village, you could count the number of people who had vehicles. Today, it is not just about the urban areas. Even in the rural areas, now, many families own motor vehicles. Many of them have been imported as used vehicles from other countries. It is not until in the recent past that we have had legislation being put in place to regulate importation of used vehicles to restrict the age of such vehicles. We have legislation to say that you cannot import into Kenya a vehicle that is more than eight years old. Still, even as we put in place this legislation, we are aware that there are people who have circumvented these laws. There are people who have diverted vehicles on transit to other countries that perhaps do not share the same legislation or restriction on old vehicles imported from Japan, Dubai and other countries. Many vehicles have ended up being dumped in the Kenyan market that are much older and probably would not have gone past our authorities. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as we import these vehicles we are realizing now that they are the largest contributors to the carbon dioxide emissions, because the older the vehicle becomes, the more the wear and tear and the more they emit these gases. Indeed, the Government needs to relook at ways and means of tightening the regulations to ensure that this country is not a dumping ground for old used vehicles that contribute largely to these emissions. As I congratulate Mr. Chachu, I must also take pride as a Kenyan to congratulate Prof. Maathai as one woman who has made Kenyans proud. She is one of the few Nobel Prize winners. This is for her fight to protect the environment and this planet in order to pass onto generations to come, a planet that we inherited intact. However, it has been polluted and ravaged in many ways. We take pride in her role and contribution which has earned her and this country international recognition. It now falls upon us as a House to do our part. Mr. Chachu has taken a very bold step in the right direction. As a House, we want to support this Motion strongly to ensure that indeed this Government implements the resolution that we are going to pass urging the Government to relook into ways and means to bring about legislation that will deal with the emissions. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as I speak, we know that the Government is trying to bring into place changes that have been long awaited but have been resisted by many, including the construction of by-passes around the City of Nairobi. We do know that pulling down prestigious homes that have restricted the construction of by-passes has not been an easy thing. Until the recent past, we have seen palatial homes being pulled down. Today, as I speak, we can see that the by-passes are being constructed. If we complete these by-passes, you will not believe the amount of progress we will have made as a country. If you are to look at the traffic jams in Nairobi alone, one friend of mine was arguing that the biggest parking lot is Uhuru Highway. The amount of time vehicles spend on Uhuru Highway in traffic jams as a result of roundabouts that restrict movement of vehicles is the biggest contributor to emissions. When you find 100 or so vehicles parked in a jam and all engines running, emitting these gases, you will not believe the amount of emission that emanates from the jams we witness from these highways. As I speak, we are very happy that the by-passes are being constructed. We will ask the Government to consider, as other countries have done, removal of roundabouts. Most of the jams are caused by the roundabouts especially when you find police officers controlling traffic. Perhaps traffic lights are even better. We hope that with such reforms that will reduce traffic jams in this city and other cities, we will have contributed greatly towards reduction of these emissions. I agree with my friend Mr. Chachu that time has come for the Government to regulate the type of fuel used by our consumers in this country. When you look at the comparison that Mr. Chachu has given us about Japan, the diesel authorized in Japan according to EU standards is 10 ppm, while the diesel from the Kenya local refineries is 10,000 ppm. I think time has come when the Government must relook at this. As Mr. Chachu has proposed, the Government should urgently gazette the 50 ppm sulphur levels for imported diesel. If these regulations are put into place, it will control the importation of this fuel and lower the sulphur levels and, therefore, the emissions that come from this. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is not only in Japan. We have been advised by many other countries that have successfully introduced lower sulphur levels in the metropolitan areas. These are countries like Brazil, Mexico and Morocco. Kenya can also go this way if only we have the goodwill of the Government and the necessary legislation and regulations put in place. I wish not to take a lot of time. I would like to thank Mr. Chachu for this Motion which I support."
}