Stakeholders in the region are calling for the enhancement of the infrastructure network to enable the free movement of labour and goods. This aspect, they say, shall provide the basis for the EAC to spur integration further. The Cabinet Secretary, East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Hon Phyllis Kandie remarked today that EAC’s regional ambitions sit on a well established infrastructure whose improvement is key to fastrack the pillars of integration.
The Cabinet Secretary lauded EALA for undertaking the Kenya tour saying the Assembly was the custodian and guardian of the integration process.
“EALA is a critical stakeholder especially as we move closer to the latter stages of integration. I thank them for their work and I urge them to apply themselves to the challenges facing this region with zeal and diligence”, Hon Kandie added.
In her remarks, the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, reiterated that the Assembly was committed to sensitizing the citizens of the region as part of its mandate.
“This interface with various stakeholders is a significant factor enabling EALA as representatives of the people to fulfill its mandate as per Article 5 and Article 49 of the Treaty. It further enables the EALA to make better informed decisions as it legislates and superintend the implementation of all the pillars of integration”, the Speaker remarked.
The Speaker was emphatic that the region was making irreversible progress in the integration agenda. She cited recent efforts put in place by the Partner States to promote to enhance free movement of persons as cases in point.
“Already, the Partner States of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are making some progress with regards to the use of Identity cards despite few operational hiccups. Last week, none other than President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Paul Kagame travelled to Uganda to attend the Summit of the Northern Corridor Integration Project using their identity cards and this is a step in the right direction”, Rt.Hon Zziwa said.
The Chairman of the Konza Techno City, John Ngumi remarked that there were vast opportunities in the various sectors of the Konza Techno city for interested parties to tap in. “We are working hard to deliver on the infrastructure to open up avenues for investment”, he stated.
The Chairman remarked that Konza Techno City was expected to contribute an estimated 10% to Kenya’s GDP annually.
“We want to create 200,000 jobs in the Business Process Outsourcing, Information Technology Enabling Services (BPO-ITES) and related sectors in the next two decades”, Mr. Ngumi added. “A detailed economic and strategy and Master Plan for phase 1 is to be developed in the next five years”, he added.
Infrastructure is expected to be funded to the tune of 1 billion dollars in the next fifteen years. So far, the Konza Techno City has purchased 5000 acres of land for its first phase. At the same time, feasibility studies have been completed with the opening up of areas marked for roads and provision of adequate energy to phase 1.
Mr. Ngumi cited finances, conflicting priorities as some of the challenges.
Konza Techno City shall be a sustainable world class technology hub and a major economic driver for the nation with a vibrant mix of businesses, workers, residents and urban amenities.
The Director of the Economic Pillar at the Vision 2030 Secretariat, Dr. Mohammed Omar remarked that his organization, established in 2008, had succeeded in co-ordinating government services to operate within the economic pillars, social and political pillars. Vision 2030 operates under flagship projects with five year implementation projects. The Director noted that the special economic zones had been established considering the EAC as a domestic market.
EAC linked projects, Dr. Omar noted, include the standard gauge railway connecting major cities in the region, LAPSET project, electronic real time systems to reduce clearing of cargo, road networks and clearance of goods at the border posts.
The Legal Advisor at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Mr Gichinga Ndirangu remarked that his organization wanted a review of the national laws and policies to strengthen key sectors of the economy such as the services sector. This would involve, among other things, sustaining efforts to remove restrictions on trade in services. At the moment according to Mr. Ndirangu, a number of laws are being reviewed to conform to the Common Market Protocol. He cited some of the key bills as the Companies Act (Amendment) Bill 2010, Special Economic Zones Bill 2012 and Business Regulation Bill 2012.
The presenter challenged EALA to maintain dialogue with the various stakeholders in the Private Sector. He cited awareness raising and information campaigns, establishment of topical dialogue platforms to augment interests of the Private sector and the dissemination of regional targets and benchmarks such as the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers.
KEPSA also maintains that harmonization of the EAC domestic taxation should be speeded up to create a level playing field for taxes.
On the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations, the apex body is pushing for the application of the national treatment rule of the World Trade Organisation, which calls inter alia for equal treatment of EAC Partner States without differentiation in the domestic market.
A Board Member of EABC, Agatha Juma remarked that dialogue between the Private Sector and legislators was a priority.
“We need to interface so that the business community are made aware of pieces of legislation that affect them”, Ms. Juma noted.
EABC attends policy making meetings at the EAC and is the apex body that brings the private sector together. Ms. Juma however cited the high costs of transport and the slow pace of harmonization of products standards as impediments to business. Other challenges include the high costs of air transport in the region and the inefficiency at ports, which need to be unlocked, Ms. Juma noted.
The ten-day tour seeks to enable EALA to appreciate the diversity of the people and the development initiatives that Kenya has to offer to the region. At the same time, the legislators shall interact directly with citizens and hear their views, aspirations and fears on the integration process. The EALA Members are also expected to get first-hand experience on the workings of a devolved government following the promulgation of the Constitution in Kenya in 2010.
Last week at the coast region, EALA paid a courtesy call on the Mombasa County Governor, H.E. Hassan Ali Joho and his Kilifi counterpart, H.E. Amason Kingi. The legislators also undertook an extensive tour of the Kenya Ports Authority, holding discussions with the Port’s senior management led by the Managing Director, Gichiri Ndua.
Ends
For more information, contact:
Bobi Odiko,
Senior Public Relations Officer,
East African Legislative Assembly,
Tel: Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036.
Email: Bodiko@eachq.org
