Machakos county women representative Doctor Susan Musyoka has urged the county assembly to introduce a bill on charcoal burning to regulate the rate of cutting trees in the County.
Speaking in her office on Wednesday while addressing the press, Musyoka cited that the rate at which Machakos county forest trees are being cut is increasing which is a threat to the environment.
Musyoka has called upon MCAs to consider introducing the bill, that if passed would see that the irresponsible cutting of trees ceased, and that the environment was conserved.
“It is good if the county assembly has a bill on charcoal burning so that people do stop cutting trees without the right regulation,” said Musyoka.
Musyoka further stated cutting trees was destroying forest cover in Machakos county compared to other surrounding counties. Musyoka said that this threat to the environment would eventually pose socio-economic challenges.
“Machakos forest cover is around 3.3% compared to Makueni that has 13% and Kitui county with 7%. This eventually reflects in the rainfall shortage and directly affect the area economic production,” Musyoka said.
This is after David Njakaiti, the Environment executive revealed that the county government had plans to implement various environmental policies.
The county government has also launched and is funding tree planting exercise that is underway in all constituencies within the county.