Ladies & Gentlemen of the Press, I welcome you all to this press briefing and to thank you for your attendance. I wish to notify you of the 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Session of the 3rd East African Legislative Assembly which takes place here in Nairobifrom today until December 5th, 2014.
At this juncture, let me salute his Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta and the entire Government of the Republic of Kenya for accepting to host EALA.
We thank our host, the Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, Rt. Hon Justin Muturi for granting us access to the facilities here at the Kenya National Assembly.
As the 3rd Assembly we are coming back here in Nairobi for the second time – but more so, as part of the pursuit of the principle of rotation anchored on EALA’s Strategic objective of enhancing the visibility of the Assembly by taking it nearer to the people. Meetings of the Assembly are now frequently held in all the Partner States as per the Provisions of Article 55 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
Over the coming two-weeks here, the Assembly will conduct the following notable business for consideration:
- we shall receive the official Address by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta at the Special Sitting on Tuesday, November 18, 2014;
- debate on the EAC Co-operatives Bill, 2014
- debate on the EAC Integration Education Bill, 2014
- debate on the EAC Cross border Legal Practice Bill, 2014
- receive and consider reports from various Committees of the Assembly. Such include the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution, Accounts, Communication Trade and Investments, General Purpose and Legal Rules and Privileges. Others are the Reports of the Committees on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources the Committee and that of Legal Rules and Privileges. The Report of the Committee on the Communications, Trade and Investment on the Implementation of the Single Customs Territory on the Central Corridor shall also be debated.
- consider several Motions and Questions brought before the House.
The EAC is at an important period in the integration dispensation. We appreciate the fact that all Partner States are committed to strengthening the integration process by implementing the provisions of the Protocols.
Perhaps let me inform you quickly about the progress so far. As you may be aware, the Customs Union has attained its full implementation and several phases are at an advanced stage. Hereunder, goods produced in the region enjoy zero taxes but benefit from uniform external tariffs, procedures and documentation. The Single Customs Territory regime which is now operationalised is good progress for the EAC since it shall enable the faster movement of goods.
At the recent tour of the Dar es Salaam Port, we were pleased to note that efficiencies have been registered in cargo handling. We also witnessed the presence of Revenue Offices (and officers) of the Republics of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC while Kenya was preparing to follow suit. This means goods can now be cleared faster.
The Port of Mombasa has also increased its efficiency. The commissioning of Berth 19 at the port is set to increase the container handling facility and this is envisaged shall lead to doubling trade in the region to Sh2.9 Trillion by 2016.
It is also expected to enhance the flow of transport along the Northern Corridor from the port through to Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The aim of creating a Single Customs Territory is to enable the Partner States to enjoy economies of scale, with a view to supporting the process of economic development. The bureaucracies which were associated with too much documentation has reduced and this has speeded up the movement of goods. We salute the Heads of State for their commitment to ensuring the optimization of the Single Customs Territory.
The Common Market Protocol on its part provides for free movement of goods, services, labour, capital and the rights to establishment among others. Generally, Partner States have shown their willingness to enforce the provisions of the said Protocol which is in its fourth year of implementation. We encourage Partner States to discard national fears and insecurities over jobs and to attain free movement. It is now time for us to compliment on the strengths of each other thus exploring bigger markets and enjoying the economies of scale and production.
The EAC has also signed the Monetary Union, the third step in the four-tier integration process. We congratulate the Republic of Kenya following The National Assemblies’ recent debate and approval for ratification of the Monetary Union Protocol. We shall work closely with the Council of Ministers on the envisaged roadmap including consideration of the Bills establishing the East African Monetary Institute, East African Financial Services Commission and the East African Surveillance, Compliance and Enforcement Commission among others.
Real implementation of these Protocols will require various pieces of legislation. As soon as the Council of Ministers brings them to the House, we will expeditiously debate.
The involvement of East Africans in the process of integration is fundamental given the fact that the Treaty under Article (7) places “a people centred process” as a key principle to integration. This principle is enshrined in our EALA Strategic Plan 2013- 2018, and forms the core of our theme. We shall continue to engage with the citizens of the region, and ensure their opinions and aspirations are taken into account when enacting Legislation.
Despite the notable progress, there are challenges. As previously stated, we need to ensure that Non-Tariff Barriers are effectively addressed. A suitable mechanism should be put in place and enforced and as EALA, we shall appeal to the Summit to speed up the process.
The central and northern corridors are key infrastructures that service the hinterland of the Partner States. We salute the Heads of State for the firm stand taken to improve the efficiency on the corridors. We are also optimistic on the improved infrastructure including reducing the roadblocks and standardizing the security checks. Recently Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda launched the construction of the standard gauge railway line in Kampala and this shall for certain enhance business growth and expansion of trade among States.
However, challenges still exist and we must tackle them head-on. These include the slow-uptake of the agenda of the EAC in the national policy networks.
We shall continue collaborating with all the Council of Ministers and other stakeholders and in carrying out of our mandate as stipulated by the Treaty to ensure that our EAC economic bloc is strengthened. I wish again to thank and to welcome the Media to fully cover the EALA Plenary sittings during the two weeks. I thank you for your kind attention.
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