PRESS RELEASE
- President Kibaki extends invitation to other African states to join Community
- President Kikwete’s State of the EAC Address for Tuesday
The Fifth Meeting, Third Session of the Second East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) kicked off officially today at the Parliament Chambers of the National Assembly of Kenya with an open Invitation by H.E President Mwai Kibaki to other African countries to join the East African Community (EAC). President Kibaki made the remarks when he addressed Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
“I am aware that some countries have already expressed their interest in joining the EAC. We welcome them and assure them of our support because our vision is to make the East African Community the most successful and integrated bloc in Africa,” President Kibaki said.
President Kibaki noted that the EAC was one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching integration arrangements in the world that envisions the eventual full unification of the Partner States as a single political entity, a target envisioned by the Community’s founding fathers.
The President said that he had no doubt “that the founding fathers of our Community, would be proud of the steps we have taken to grow their original vision of an integrated East Africa”.
President Kibaki noted that Rwanda and Burundi had immensely benefited from the EAC and made the regional bloc stronger and more economically vibrant.
President Kibaki informed the EALA that the EAC Common Market Protocol, that had already been ratified by all the Partner States and was targeted to come into force on 1 July this year, coinciding with new momentum towards establishment of the East African Monetary Union.
The Kenyan President pointed out that labour markets in the region will be more liberalised with free movement of labour, thus benefiting both employers and employees from the region.
“It will stimulate and strengthen our economies, while enabling us to achieve our long term goals of reducing poverty and improving the living standards of our people,” the President said.
The President acknowledged the elaborate agenda the Assembly had for its meetings, saying the meetings that will be held in Nairobi and Mombasa will address important issues affecting the East African Community.
President Kibaki said the EALA members should come up with programs that will take the spirit of East Africa from the summits and boardrooms to the furthest points of the region, “after all it is our people who must see and feel the benefits of integration,” the Head of State said.
In his welcoming speech, the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi hailed President Kibaki and his counterparts for signing the Common Market Protocol within the targeted timeframe and for giving a clear and unambiguous message to those near and far that the ideals and objectives set out by the East African Community are real and will be successfully attained. “We assure Your Excellency that EALA will do all it can to enact the necessary pieces of legislation to ensure that the Protocol is successfully implemented,” Rt. Hon. Abdi said.
Hon. Lydia Wanyoto, who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the EALA Members, hailed President Kibaki for his support to the EAC while emphasising that East African citizens stood to benefit from the Common Market. Also present during the meeting was the Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly Hon. Kenneth Marende, Kenyan Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Cabinet Ministers and members of the diplomatic corps among others.
H.E President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania who is also the Chairperson of the EAC Summit is expected to give a State of the East African Community Address tomorrow at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, Kenya.
