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"id": 968396,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Halake",
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"legal_name": "Abshiro Soka Halake",
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"content": "no other country in the world. These endangered species are of global significance, not just for Kenya. Therefore, this country serves the global community very well when it comes to the conservation of our wildlife, flora and fauna. CITES is a very important annual gathering for conservation, especially with regard to trade in endangered species. Madam Temporary Speaker, with that said, there is a lot of push by certain countries to ensure that certain stockpiles, especially tusks, are given a one-off trading license or things like that. However, as Kenya, we have always said that this would then spur other illegal activities or black market activity for trade in endangered species. It would consequently then decimate the last animals on earth. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is not country in the world, other than perhaps in parts of Namibia, where the animals – especially the big five and other endangered species – live in the wild. Places such as Southern Africa – even though they sometimes say that they want to trade in some of their stockpiles – the Kruger National Park, for instance, is a big zoo. It is only in Kenya that our animals live in the wild, the way God intended. Of course, that is also under threat. The number one threat to endangered species right now is not even the trade in endangered species, but the loss of habitat due to population explosion, blockage of natural habitats and immigration corridors of the animals. That is an internal issue that we are dealing with, but internationally, the trade in endangered species is one that this country has dealt very well with. We have been able to move certain species, such as elephants, from Appendix 2 to Appendix 1, which is basically then helping us not to have even a one-off trade in endangered species or animal tusks. Madam Temporary Speaker, the most important thing for us, as a country, even as we go to international fora to negotiate and to make sure that our endangered species are taken care of is this. Here at home, the number one factor that, in my opinion as a conservationist, would help endangered species is the communities that host these animals. As the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Lands and Natural Resources, Sen. Mwangi Githiomi, has just presented, our communities, for instance in Isiolo, Maasai Mara, Narok, along the Coastal belt, along Emali and even in the Nairobi National Park, host wildlife. These communities share in the benefits of conservation of these species. They will definitely make sure that they are not endangered anymore, and that they protect them. This is why, as a Committee, we have spearheaded certain contributions by the Government through budgetary and other capacity support to communities that are hosting these wildlife. These communities bear the brunt of human-wildlife conflict, as it has been said; and they are the ones who are conserving even more than the Government protected areas. Madam Temporary Speaker, it may be interesting for the country to note that almost 70 per cent of the species, both endangered and non-endangered, live outside Government protected areas. Non-Government protected or community areas form a very big component of conservation, especially because of the dispersal areas as well as communities hosting the wildlife. This is especially in Northern Kenya, where pastoralism works hand in hand with animals and conservation in community conservancies. 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."
}