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Huge support for
forest motion
by John Kamau, Rights Features Service
(April 26,
2001) The Kenyan parliament unanimously passed a motion urging
the government to prepare "within six months" a master plan on
forest rehabilitation, protection of rivers, and vegetation.
The motion
proposed the formation of a National Environment Management Authority
which is to supervise forest rehabilitation.
Moved by
the Democratic Party's Laikipia East Mwangi Kiunjuri, the passing
of the motion came at a time when the Kenya government is under
siege from environmentalist and human rights activists after it
sought the excision of 10 percent of the forest.
A large part
of the planned excision is inhabited by the Ogiek indigenous community
of Kenya who fear that their land is being opened up for settlement
of other groups.
Speaking
shortly after the motion was passed, a jubilant Kiunjuri said
the motion would "end the alarming rate of destruction and natural-resource
destruction."
The Ogiek
have moved to court to challenge the intended degazettement of
their land and removal from state protection.
Although
in the past parliamentary motions were not followed up to the
implementation stage, they are these days used to gauge the national
mood and change of government policy.
Also, the
motions are the first stage towards moving parliament to enact
specific acts. In this case, pundits say, members of parliament
can move a notice of motion to create the National Environment
Management Authority if the government drags its feet.
"For the
first time parliament has shown that it does care for the environment,"
said Kiunjuri.
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