Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 947606,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/947606/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 387,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kasanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13185,
        "legal_name": "Sylvia Mueni Kasanga",
        "slug": "sylvia-mueni-kasanga"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, as we have heard from some of the Senators, in the 1980’s, the climate was very different from what it is today. In those days, one could anticipate weather changes. One cannot anticipate weather changes today. That is why we are experiencing a lot of flash floods that cause death and destruction. We have no capacity as in this country to handle disaster and we have seen that time and again, year- in, year-out. We have been unable to manage our risks. With the change in climate, it becomes paramount for us to take care of our environment if we are going to have a future to leave this country to our young people. We have a duty, as leaders, to spearhead the conversation on trees and more importantly take this conversation to the lips of every Kenyan. The best way to do that is to have the forest associations in place, empower them and let Kenyans understand the importance of planting trees, taking care of them and conserving forests. As Sen. Wambua said, in the past there was a policy from the Government that demanded one to plant two trees for each tree that they cut. Sen. Wetangula has given us many examples of more progressive countries which have over 70 per cent of tree cover such as South Korea and Japan. That is practically living a forest. We need Kenyans to understand the issue of forests and living within forests. People can live in forests but the question is, do people understand the value of the trees that they live next to? That is the conversation that we need to have as we talk about protecting water towers. Sen. Halake said that we should talk about land and conservation as two different things. I now understand where she was going with it. This is because Sen. Wambua, Sen. (Dr.) Langat and Sen. Cheruiyot have brought it up. With regard to the politics around our water towers, leaders need to understand that people can live next to trees. However, they need to understand how to conserve and plant others or pick agricultural activities that do not require cutting down trees. That way, they can co-exist with the trees like in the Amazon like another Senator said. People live within the environment and eat from it. They protect it and use it for their medicinal purposes as Sen. (Rev.) Waqo has said. So, it is possible for people to live side by side with the forests. Madam Temporary Speaker, our leaders should take the correct approach on the conversation around the Mau Forest and other areas where we have conversations on protecting our water towers. That is one thing that I have taken with me. The Senator for Homa Bay has rightly put it that all the laws are in place. I also alluded to town planning in the beginning. I do not know why our cities and towns are still approving building designs without adequate green cover for our citizens to live in. At some point, we have to take stock, as leaders, and make the necessary demands. If it means developers have to find a way of making sure every development has a portion of tree cover or greenery, then it is a must we take that up, as leaders, and demand these things. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}