East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, 19 November 2023: Speakers of East African Community (EAC) legislatures committed to fostering cooperation, understanding and growth among member states.
Speaking at the 16th forum of the East African Community Bureau of Speakers meeting held at Pyramid Continental Hotel, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, said that the Bureau continued to make progress towards the ideals of integration in line with article 49(2) and 65 of the Treaty for the Establishement of the EAC.
"On behalf of EALA, I express gratitude to the Bureau for always being available for the meetings of the Bureau. Your attendance is a testimony of your commitment to the integration dispensation by EAC Parliaments," Rt Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana.
The EAC Speakers' Bureau was established in 2008 with a mandate to come up with a functional working relationship between the Speakers of the partner States.
The meeting comes a day after Clerks of national assemblies of East African Community partner States and EALA met at the same venue for their 17th annual meeting.
During a session chaired by Mr. Michael Kadebe, who represented the Clerk of the Tanzanian National Assembly, the clerks prepared working documents and an agenda for the Bureau of Speakers' meeting.
The East African Legislative Assembly Deputy Clerk, Mr. John Mutega Njoroge and Principal Clerk, Mr. Charles Kadonya represented the EALA Clerk, Mr. Alex Obatre.
The meeting discussed the Draft Framework for collaboration between EALA and national legislatures and the challenges facing the regional body.
During their meeting last year, respective Clerks of the EAC national legislatures were tasked by the Bureau to undertake the process of drafting a Private Members’ Bill to be considered by EALA.
The Bill will seek to enact laws to govern the envisioned organ of the Community.
NOTE TO EDITORS ABOUT EALA
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its membership consists of a total of 72, of whom 63 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is put in effect by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
-ENDS-
For more information, contact
EALA Media Team
East African Legislative Assembly,
P.O. Box 1096, Arusha, Tanzania.
Cell. +255-765746904
Email: eala@eachq.org
Web: www.eala.org
