NAIROBI, KENYA – March 5, 2024- The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) commenced its special sitting at the Parliament of Kenya on 5th March 2024. President William Ruto of Kenya graced the occasion on the invitation of the Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, Speaker of EALA .
In his opening remarks to the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the 5th Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly, President Ruto praised the progress made in integrating the East African Community. He emphasized the importance of regional integration in achieving a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable, and politically united East Africa. “Our peoples’ journey to a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and politically united East Africa entails the implementation of policies and establishment of institutions under the four wellknown pillars of integration, namely: a customs union, common market, monetary union and political federation”.
President Ruto highlighted the role of the East African Legislative Assembly in implementing policies and establishing institutions to promote regional integration. He lauded the achievements in the customs union, common market, and the reduction of non-tariff barriers, leading to increased trade efficiency and intra-EAC trade. “This Assembly accentuates the direct linkage between common regional and specific intra-member state policies by performing the vital and simultaneous functions of embedding regional integration agenda at the heart of domestic policymaking, while also ensuring that the EAC represents, articulates and projects the interests of member states as well the entire collectivity of our community”.
President Ruto also emphasized the need to focus on peace, stability, and security as the foundation for growth and development. He urged the private sector to be more involved in the integration process and called for alignment with the broader African transformational paradigm. President Ruto used the opportunity to invite fellow Heads of State and Government to participate in the upcoming World Bank Group’s International Development Association Summit to be hosted in Kenya on the 29th of April 2024, to mobilize development financing for Africa. He thanked the Speaker for the opportunity to address the assembly and wished them productive engagements.
President Ruto praised strides the Community has since taken in their quest for accelerated ease of business across borders..“Consequently, the turn-around time for trucks has reduced significantly along all our transport corridors and the clearance time at border crossings has reduced by 84%, making trade more efficient in our region. This is why intra-EAC trade is the highest of the trading blocks in our continent at 25%. With a collective GDP of $350 billion, a population of 350 million and an area of 5 million square kilometres, the EAC member States are an attractive investment destination. EAC’s total trade in 2022 stood at $74 billion. In the same year, Africa accounted for 44% and 25% of EAC's total exports and imports respectively”.
On climate change, President Ruto urged African states to “lend support to the African Leaders' Nairobi Declaration and Call to Action, which defines a strong and distinctly African contribution to the global discourse on humanity’s foremost existential challenge, by affirming the nexus between climate action and sustainable development and calling for increased investment in Africa to kick-start a green industrial revolution”.
On his part, The Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, delivered his welcoming remarks, expressing gratitude to President Dr. William Samoei Ruto for his presence and deep commitment to the East African Community (EAC) and for granting EALA access to all the facilities of the Parliament of Kenya for this Third meeting of the 5th Assembly. The Speaker highlighted that the 5th Assembly of EALA, which started on 19th December 2022, has welcomed new members from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and will soon include representatives from Somalia who have now gained full membership of the EAC after depositing her instrument of ratification of the treaty of accession on Monday the 4th March, 2024 in Arusha . The expansion of the EAC to include Somalia brings the total number of member states to eight. Speaker Ntakirutimana commended the vision of the Summit for an expanded EAC and praised the knowledgeable and hardworking team of MPs from Kenya.
The decision to hold the sitting in Kenya aligns with Article 55 of the EAC Treaty, which encourages rotational sittings in partner states. Speaker Ntakirutimana appreciated the leadership of the Republic of Kenya for hosting the Assembly and recognized the excellent facilities provided by the Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, and the Speaker of the Senate of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Jeffa Amason Kingi. Rotational sittings serve to enhance the visibility of the EAC, increase public awareness and participation in the integration process, and foster cooperation with national assemblies. It also allows Heads of State to address East Africans and share their vision for a united and prosperous EAC.
During the special sitting, EALA will consider several bills, oversight reports, questions to the Council of Ministers, petitions from EAC citizens, motions for resolutions, and a report to amend the EALA rules of procedure. The Assembly will also engage in joint activities with the Parliament of Kenya and conduct outreach and sensitization programs in various regions of Kenya including an outreach and sensitization program with the local traders in Nairobi, “to understand the challenges in their cross-border trade. This exercise will bring the Assembly closer to the people”. The Assembly will also meet with Hon. Members of Kenya Women Parliamentarian Association (KEWAPA), to share best practices and experiences in ensuring women participate in the electoral processes in our community.
Rt. Hon. Speaker Ntakirutimana expressed gratitude to President Ruto and Kenya for their timely completion and full subscription to the EAC. He commended President Ruto for his visionary leadership and positive working relations with the Kenya Parliament, demonstrating progress and development for the country. He also acknowledged President Ruto's efforts in promoting regional peace and security, including engagement with partner states and pursuing homegrown solutions to regional issues. Furthermore, Speaker Ntakirutimana applauded President Ruto's advocacy for reforms at international financial institutions and his commitment to promoting local industries and reforming global action on climate change and the environment.
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For more information, please contact:
Nicodemus Ajak Bior
Senior Public Relations Officer
East Africa Legislative Assembly
Email: nb@eachq.org
Phone: +255 768885633
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