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{
"id": 948753,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/948753/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kasanga",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13185,
"legal_name": "Sylvia Mueni Kasanga",
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"content": "time to make an urgent call upon our citizenry to actively participate in the protection of forests and plant trees; NOW, THEREFORE, the Senate urges: 1. THAT, all Citizens as per Article 69(2) of the Constitution, and Sections 48-52 of the Forest Conservations Management Act be encouraged through the relevant National Government ministries and County departments to contribute in formation of Community Forest Associations to expedite Community Participation in Forest Resources Management; 2. THAT, the National Government and all the 47 county governments operationalize Tax & Fiscal Incentives (as per FCMA Section 53 –55) to promote forest conservation and management, and prevent degradation of tree cover in Public, Private and Community Lands (as measures of ensuring sustainability); 3. THAT the National Government communicates progress towards establishment of a National Tree Planting Week, so that State Agencies, Corporations and Kenyans can adequately prepare for the event; and, 4. THAT all County Assemblies initiate processes of enacting legislation on Forestry Functions for County Governments (As per FCMA Section 21). Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the reason for this Motion, which is quite self- explanatory, is that we do not want the conversation of trees to go silent. I strongly believe that we should discuss trees practically every day. Trees should be a conversation that our children talk about. I remember when we were young, planting trees were a big conversation. There used to be a motto that when you cut a tree, you plant two. I do not know why these days we cannot keep this conversation going. Therefore, as we task county governments to do as the Act mandates, I wish that this House can also spearhead this conversation, that all leaders need to talk about trees at all time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, two weeks ago, I was privileged to represent the Speaker to open a forum called Our City 2030 Youth Visions and Sustainable Solutions . Of course, one of the biggest conversations in the cities is about tree cover. The conversation of what Nairobi used to be, that is the green city under the sun, has now changed into being the concrete city under the sun. There is no doubt that the temperatures have gone higher and the environment has completely changed. We have an unhealthy environment around us, and our children are always getting respiratory diseases. We now have mosquitoes in Nairobi because of climate change. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, one of the best ways if mitigating climate change is by planting trees. Trees and the conservation of our water towers has become a politicized issue in this country, and it is really sad. The conversation that we need to be reminding our citizenry is that without trees, we have no life and no water. Water is life, and there is nothing to politicize about it. If anything, what the Government needs to be doing is to compensate and resettle people who reside in forest lands, because we need those forests. 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."
}