EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
WANTS EFFECTIVE TRACKING OF ITS RESOLUTIONS…calls for enhanced infrastructure and capacity at its Secretariat
East African Legislative Assembly, Kigali, Rwanda, November 25, 2015: EALA is calling for the necessary infrastructure to bolster its capacity to effectively execute its oversight mandate. Critical among this is a well-managed database for the Assembly’s Resolution and Questions and Council commitments, a robust and well- resourced Research/Monitoring unit and regular capacity building for Members.
At the same time, the Assembly is to urgently mobilize resources to develop an online monitoring module under the EAC Monitoring System currently operational at the EAC Secretariat that will serve as a database for monitoring.
The recommendations are contained in a report of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges on tracking the implementation of Resolutions and Questions of the Assembly. The Report was presented to the House by the Chair of Legal, Rules and Privileges, Hon Peter Mathuki before an attentive House.
The Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges held a meeting in Arusha to track the implementation of Resolutions and Questions of the Assembly over a 12 year period (2002-2014).
The objective of this oversight activity was to track the status of implementation of Resolutions and alongside the Council commitments for the period 2002-2014.
In doing so, the Committee employed various modes including studying the East African Monitoring System (EAMS) to ascertain how it can enhance the oversight function of the Assembly, reviewing the matrix of the Assembly’s Resolutions and Questions asked during the period under review and reviewing literature of Resolutions of the Assembly and Council commitments.
The Committee found that some Resolutions passed have been implemented, some not implemented and others partially implemented. Over the period in review, the Assembly has passed 105 Bills.
During debate, Hon Joseph Kiangoi said the tracking mode would improve efficiency of the Assembly.
“We need to know and get feedback on where the important issues raised in the House are at,” Hon Kaingoi said adding that such decisions form authority when the Assembly is discussing related matters.
Hon Zein said it was important for the Resolutions and Bills to be uploaded on the website as one of the ways of tracking status.
Hon Valerie Nyirahabineza remarked that many of the Resolutions had not been implemented.
“Perhaps due to financial constraints or reluctance on the part of the Partner States to implement them, but unfortunately, we have not been informed”, she said.
Hon Dora Byamukama remarked that it was also necessary to track on the implementation of the recommendations of the Assembly. “We must have a compendium of the work we have done as an Assembly and to be able to share our work with the National Assemblies. We must document what we have done to keep our legacy” she remarked.
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For more Information,
contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer;
East African Legislative Assembly;
Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945+254-733-718036;
Email: bodiko@eachq.org
Web: https://www.eala.org
Arusha, Tanzania
