The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) resumes business next week in Arusha, Tanzania. The Plenary which takes place from Monday, March 24th, 2014 to Friday, April 4th, 2014 is the Fifth Meeting of the Second Session of the Third Assembly.
The President of the Republic of Kenya and the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, is expected to deliver the State of EAC Address on Tuesday, March 25th, 2014. This is the first such Address (State of EAC Address) for President Kenyatta to the Assembly.
The State of EAC Address is delivered by the sitting Chairperson of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State. The Address often deliberates on matters of importance to the Community. The focus of the Address reflects on matters of general policies relating to the progress that the Community is realizing, while outlining the strategic challenges which require greater attention.
The first State of EAC Address was delivered by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni in Arusha in 2008. Since then, the Address has been institutionalized by EALA and all Partner States’ Heads of State have delivered the key discourse. In most instances, the occasion calls upon the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State to traverse the region and deliver the Address in a neighbouring Partner State where the EALA is sitting.
The Assembly which shall be presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon (Dr) Margaret Nantongo Zziwa expects to debate on the following Bills and deliberations:
- EAC Integration (Civic Education) Bill, 2014
- receive and consider reports from various Committees of the Assembly
- consider Motions and Questions brought before the House.
EALA is also expected to receive and meet different stakeholders as part of its representative activities. The Plenary shall be preceded by a Joint Meeting of Committees on Legal, Rules & Privileges and Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution on the proposed model of the EAC Political Federation Structure and Action Plan. The Meeting brings together legislators, the Council of Ministers and the Department of Political Federation at the East African Community Secretariat.
NOTE TO EDITORS
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 52, of whom 45 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and seven ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is effected by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States.
EALA has recently launched its second Strategic Plan (2013-2018). The formulation of the Strategic Plan was an all-inclusive process involving the EALA Commission, Members, staff and other stakeholders.
The Strategic Plan has six main strategic issues:
1. EALA’s main Administrative Autonomy, Capacity and Efficiency.
2. Negotiations for the EAC Pillars of integration.
3. EALA’s corporate image, institutional status, growth and development.
4. Capacity building in regional Parliamentary Practices.
5. Effective, sustainable and Results-oriented communication and sensitization on EAC integration.
6. Robust and effective Monitoring and Evaluation.
Ends
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For more Information, contact:
Bobi Odiko,
Senior Public Relations Officer;
East African Legislative Assembly;
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036;
Email: bodiko@eachq.org
