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{
    "id": 947592,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/947592/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 373,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Milgo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13174,
        "legal_name": "Milgo Alice Chepkorir",
        "slug": "milgo-alice-chepkorir"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me this time to also add my voice. From the outset, I thank Sen. Kasanga for bringing such a wonderful Motion. Formation of community forest associations will go a long way in assisting in terms of conserving forests. Our Constitution of Kenya, 2010, obligates the state to increase the forest cover to 10 per cent. As things stand now, forest cover in Kenya is barely at four per cent. In some areas, it is even below that. The major reason is because of issues of implementation. If we have community forest associations, we will increase the percentage of forest cover. When we talk about community forest associations, we recognise the rights of a community to manage their affairs just like in devolution where county governments are doing very well. Madam Temporary Speaker, this will go a long way in ensuring that forests that we have are conserved especially when communities are involved. We need to engage environmental departments of the county governments not only to set aside funding but also go around sensitizing the people on the importance of forests. If people are sensitised on the issues of forest cover, I am sure it will be possible to conserve many trees in Kenya. We know that the reason we have challenges of climate change is because we have reduced what used to be flourishing trees to nothing. The result is seasonal rains that cause floods. If trees are conserved, they are not only for aesthetic value but also provide homes to flora and fauna. In addition, the trees purify the air so that people can live in a better environment. Some of the diseases that we are encountering right now are because we have cleared the forests to the extent that we are so exposed. The many challenges that we are experiencing right now is as a result of the various Acts that we have. The Community Forest Association Act and the Water Resource Use Act speak to the issue conserving forests. It is a high time that the Act should be looked into to ensure that we assign specific responsibilities to the different bodies so that we have better management. The National Land Commission (NLC) is to blame for the challenges that we are facing currently. The people who inhabit the Mau Forest---"
}