Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 946120,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/946120/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ndhiwa, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Martin Owino",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13449,
        "legal_name": "Martin Peters Owino",
        "slug": "martin-peters-owino"
    },
    "content": "The land is also not developed because one does not know for how long one will live there. It is, therefore, appropriate that that particular section of the forest is de-gazetted for them to settle and develop the land. Also, I support the idea that those who live at the top of the mountain should come down. There is a general trend where they try to move to the top of hills and mountains and settle there, without caring about the demarcations separating Government forest land. The Government agencies responsible for forest management have been lax. It is time we put clear demarcations not only in Mount Elgon Forest, but even in other forests across the country. People have tried to settle everywhere, including on top of mountains. They should not be there because when they till the land, they will interfere with forestation as well. It should not go without being said that we are losing almost 5,000 hectares of forest every year in this country. That is very detrimental to the livelihood of human beings. At the same time, the more we strive to move towards the global 10 per cent forest cover, the more we destroy existing forests. I do not know when we are going to achieve it, especially with the laxity of the Government. As people move to places they are not supposed to move to and try to settle there, where is the Government? We got Independence in 1963 and the rules are there. Enforcing them is a problem. For example, in my constituency, some rivers have dried up completely because people are cultivating right up to the river bed and the Government is just watching them. Existing regulations are never enforced. Human activities in such areas are killing the livelihood along the rivers, including wild animals all the way to Ruma Forest. People decide to do what they want. So, we are asking ourselves why the Government is lax. For example, the Ndorobo say they cannot come out of the forest because that is their ancestral land. Yes, it is. However, if everybody were to do anything they want, then there would be no need to have a Government. In the first place, why were they left to do that? I urge Members to accept this Petition, so that we can move to other forests with similar issues. Even as we de-gazette this potion of forest, there is also need for the Government to support the people to plant more trees. People should be educated on the need to plant trees so that they can love the practice. People do not understand the concept of global warming having resulted from deforestation. I believe if the people who are going to be settled there are properly educated and supported, we can attain the UN forest cover threshold. The Government should move fast to implement this Petition once we approve it. With those remarks, I support."
}