Friday, 28 February, 2025
House Committee questions National Tree Planting and Harvesting Program as members adopt BPS report𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲, 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟕𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.
The Departmental Committee on Environment Forestry and Mining led by session chair Hon. Dr. Joseph Wainaina Iraya has today raised questions around the revenue generated from the tree harvesting program after the government lifted the moratorium on logging.
The lawmakers also went ahead to question funding around the National tree planting exercise targetting fifteen billion trees by the year 2032.
Hon. Beatrice Kemei (Kericho) pointed out that the State Department of Forestry was collecting Billions of shillings under harvesting of mature trees and production of seedlings that generate revenue which has not been disclosed.
"Hon. Members, this Committee needs to be told how these funds are utilised, we have money generated from our forests, take for example the many forests we have in Kericho County, how is the State Department for Forestry utilising these funds?", Hon. Kemei asked.
"It is true there is also budget allocation towards the National tree planting exercise and seedling production however it is not clear how the trees are planted, we do not know if they are given good care to allow them grow or not. There is a possibility for the State Department to also use their available tree seedlings when we have allocated a budget for the same", she added.
Hon. José Emathe (Turkana Central) while questioning the viability of the 15 billion tree planting project, sought to know why some parts of the country have been left behind when the project was meant for the whole country. He gave an example of Turkana county which he says has never been considered for the National tree planting exercise.
The Committee found it important to engage the State Department for Forestry to be able to understand the truth around the isses of concern.
Later, the Committee went ahead to adopt the report on the 2025 Budget Policy Statement and Medium Term spending for the three State Departments under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change as presented and defended last week.
The report will be presented before the National Assembly Liason Committee Monday next week.