Ladies & Gentlemen of the Press; Good Morning ; I welcome you all to this press briefing convened to notify you of the 3rd Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 3rd East African Legislative Assembly, taking place at the Kenya National Assembly, from 18th November 2013 to 26th November, 2013.
On behalf of the Assembly and on my own behalf, allow me to salute His Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta for accepting to address EALA on Tuesday, November 26, 2013.
EALA congratulates President Kenyatta for his able leadership exhibited so far and for continuing to steer the Republic of Kenya to further development. Kenya as a country has registered tremendous progress in the development of its economy and continues to be an important player in the EAC regional bloc.
Permit me in the same vein to also thank our host, the Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, Rt. Hon Justin Muturi, for granting us access to the Kenya National Assembly for our session. We continue to hail the warm and cordial relations between both Parliaments.
Over the next ten days, the notable business for consideration shall include:
- the Special Sitting and Address by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, November 26, 2013;
- debate and adoption of various Committee Reports on oversight of EAC activities, motions and resolutions.
In addition to the Plenary, EALA shall also meet with various stakeholders in Kenya. We shall embark on onsite visits to all the institutions of the EAC as part of our oversight activities. In Kenya, we shall visit the Lake Victoria Basin Commission in Kisumu before proceeding to Uganda.
I am also pleased to report that the negotiations of the Monetary Union Protocol are complete and the Summit of EAC Heads of State is expected to sign the Protocol on November 30, 2013 in Kampala, Uganda. This follows the meeting of the Attorneys General of the EAC Partner States held on Friday 15th November 2013 in Arusha.
The Attorneys General advised that the Protocol is in conformity with the Treaty for the Establishment of East African Community and advised the Heads of State to sign it.
The Protocol, shall duly usher in the convergence of the fiscal policies and eventually, the single currency, which is a both a remarkable and laudable achievement for integration. As EALA, we are indeed supportive of this important pillar of integration.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I wish to also inform you that it is slightly a year and a few months since the 3rd EALA was inaugurated. During the period, EALA has been able to enact the following 6 Bills which will promote EAC integration:
a) the East African Community Public Holidays Bill, 2013.
b) the EAC Appropriation Bill, 2013
c) the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2013;
d) the East African Community Customs Management (Amendment) Bill, 2012;
e) the East African Community One Stop Border Post (OSBP) Bill, 2012,
f) the East African Community Vehicle Control Load Bill, 2012
During the period, we have also passed 20 Resolutions key to the integration process and participated in a number of International meetings like the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conferences, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conferences and Conferences organized by sister regional Parliaments of SADC, Pan African Parliament and ECOWAS.
EALA continues to play a key role in the integration process by providing the required legislative framework and oversight to ensure the integration agenda continues to be a priority. The involvement of East Africans in the process is fundamental given the fact that the Treaty recognizes their participation as “a people centred process”. As such, the Assembly has and will continue to engage the citizens of the region, by taking their views into account when enacting legislation.
In this regard, EALA launched its 5 Year Strategic Plan 2013-2018 in Bujumbura two weeks ago. It is an important document which shall guide EALA in improving its efficiency and effectiveness. It shall further provide an opportunity for EALA to meet more with stakeholders and to dwell in detail on one of the Community’s operational principles of a people-centred and market-driven co-operation, provided for under Article 7(1) (a) of the Treaty. In this breath, more outreach programs and sensitization workshops shall be increased.
We are well aware that the integration process is at an important period in the integration process as provided for in Article 5 (2). The Treaty spells the need to attain the four pillars of a Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and a Political Federation as way to ensuring we have balanced development and sustained expansion of economic activities, the benefits of which shall be equally shared.
It is also important that we address the challenges that continue to hamper the integration process. Such include the Non-Tariff barriers and the lack of awareness. I am glad to report that the Republic of Kenya has taken steps to rid the region of NTBs and opened up the port of Mombasa to speed up the movement of goods to the hinterland and the neighbouring Partner States. As an Assembly, we salute the Government of Kenya for this foresighted move.
The Assembly is committed to work closely with the Council of Ministers in areas of legislation that shall superintend the full implementation of all the pillars of integration.
I want to thank the EALA Members (Kenya Chapter) for the hard work and collective efforts in rendering service to the people of Kenya and the citizens of the EAC region.
Finally, I welcome Members of the Forth Estate to fully participate in the coming EALA Meeting and to apprise the publics of what transpires.
I thank you all for listening.
END
Rt. Hon (Dr) Margaret Nantongo Zziwa
SPEAKER
