All efforts and systems should be put in place to ensure citizens of the region continue to integrate in a bid to strengthen the EAC, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Abdirahin H. Abdi has said.
The EALA Speaker lauded Partner States for the sustained desire to promote shared interests of their people which he noted, could be attained through engaging in diverse sports and culture thus enhancing unity and social integration. He called for widening and deepening of such initiatives at the EAC noting the whole realm was a key plank as underpinned by Article 5 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
The Rt. Hon Abdirahin was speaking when EALA hosted the visiting Kenyan parliamentarians’ Football Club, Bunge FC to dinner yesterday evening.
The team was in Arusha at the invitation of Arusha Wazee Sports Club. The five day tour saw the parliamentarians visit the EAC Secretariat, where they also inspected the construction of the new EAC headquarters and toured Arusha city to interact with the business community. Earlier on, the team played a friendly match with their hosts at the General Tyres ground, displaying their skills before narrowly losing the match 4-3.
The Chairman of the Bunge FC, Hon. Ekwee Ethuro, MP, Turukana Central, led the delegation of over 20 which comprised of eleven Members of Parliament of the Republic of Kenya and a number of staff. Also in the delegation is Kenya’s Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Kabando wa Kabando, MP.
Hon Ethuro said Kenya would continue to promote sports and other cultural activities noting the bonding and social setting would enthuse integration. He said the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya would soon discuss a Bill that seeks to recognize the Heroes of the country in sports and other areas.
On his part, Hon Kabando wa Kabando said the country would set up Sports Academies as a way of nurturing talent.
The Chairman of the Arusha Wazee FC, Danford Mpumilwa said the visit was part of his club’s mode of promoting sports through the game of soccer with other institutions from other Partner States given Arusha’s status as the “capital of the EAC”.
The Arusha Wazee Sports Club brings together more than 150 members from 20 different countries that are based in Arusha working for several local, regional and international institutions or doing business.
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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 Web: https://www.eala.org, Arusha, Tanzania
