The Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining led by Vice-Chairperson, Hon. Charles Kamuren (Baringo South) met with Hon. Irene Mayaka (Nominated) to discuss the Environment Management and Coordination (Amendment) Bill, 2023. 

The Bill sponsored by Hon. Mayaka seeks to do away with the water-intensive eucalyptus trees from water catchments and therefore preserve ground water to prevent the reduction of water levels. 

"Hon. Members, as we speak Kisii and Nyamira counties have already passed this law at their local level, Nyamira County used to have 10 main rivers but the rivers are now drying up. For the first time we see women experiencing water problems in these two counties due to the increased number of eucalyptus trees along water bodies", she said. 

She added that although the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry has had a campaign to see more trees planted in the country, there is a need to plant the right trees like Bamboo.

"My desire is for this Bill to be actualised. Eucalyptus trees are grown for their Commercial gain however bamboo can replace them along our water bodies since they are environment friendly and also have commercial value,"  she said. 

Hon. Joseph Emathe (Turkana Central) pointed out that there was laxity in implementation of laws such as the Environmental Management and Conservation Act (EMCA)1999 section 42 (1)(d) which prohibits the introduction of a plant in any river, lake, sea or wetland without the prior written approval of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).