The Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon.(Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula has called for a special summit for the East African Community that will be dedicated towards revamping the East African Legislative Assembly.

Speaking today during a breakfast meeting in his office with the sixth Speaker of EALA, the Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, Speaker Wetang’ula said that EALA was a great concept in the region but had not been natured to grow hence remaining static.

Speaker Wetang’ula congratulated Speaker Ntakirutimana for his election as the sixth EALA Speaker and asked him to ensure that he turns around EALA fortunes by bringing in fresh vigor and energy by offering strategic leadership drawn from his vast and rich experience in parliament, executive, and diplomatic circles, adding that great men built institutions.

‘’The first Speaker of EALA was very visible, active and vibrant and he used to be felt in all member countries. I also ask you Speaker Ntakirutimana to try and maintain that tempo,’’ he said.

He said that he prides in EALA that is usually at the center of his thoughts having served as chair of Foreign Affairs Ministers of East Africa when he was Kenya’s foreign affairs minister he supervised the competition to give East Africa its anthem which he said was pleasing to hear it being played in the region. 

‘’Even when you look at the European Parliament it stated exactly the same like EALA by the respective parliaments of member states through electoral college by electing respective members but within fifteen years European Union had transformed into election of its members by universal sovereignty and that is the only way we can get the general population to know and understand about EALA,’’ he said.

He asked the new Speaker to streamline EALA operations adding that he was privileged to have come from a country of origin of the current chair of East Africa Community which he said was an advantage for ease of coordination.

‘’I propose that you Speak to your head of state who is the EA chair and ask him to organize for a summit and even invite Speakers of the respective parliaments to attend we discuss on how we can make EALA more active in its roles so that you do not have so many hurdles in making things run,’’ he said.

He said that the Speaker and EALA MPs have a busy calendar to revamp and rejuvenises EALA but they must first have a political goodwill to unlock the legislative powers of EALA. 

The Speaker further advised Speaker Ntakirutimana to take the initiative of engaging EAC Speakers from the nine respective parliaments who he said are more than willing to meet and discuss issues of EALA.

‘’We are ready to sit as Speakers and see how best to address the EALA issues and harmonize so as to have a situation where whatever is available for Kenyan MP in EALA is available for a Uganda MP too, this will help have commonality and harmony in available opportunities,’’ he said.

Dr. Wetang’ula who assured Speaker Ntakirutimana of his support said that EAC desired common markets, common education systems, and common trade among other elements of operation for an effective block in EAC. 

Speaker Wetang’ula noted that when he was the Foreign Affairs Minister there used to be the foreign affairs committee, the attorney general committee and if they are still there they can be good avenues to use to influence on EALA issues.

He challenged the Kenyan MPs in EALA to also engage the Kenyan Parliament committee that oversights the EALA ministry adding that committees are not limited to what they do and they can generate legislations or motions that can help bring more awareness and other things to EALA.

‘’I know you have severally asked me whether this parliament can take you as full time or make you an appendage to this house but looking at our constitution there are serious limitations since the constitution describes how the membership of this house should be,’’ he said.

The Speaker said that member states fund the community apart from donor funds from the European Union and other donors indicating that there has been a serious problem of persistent defaulters on subscriptions to run EALA saying that they were not doing East Africa good. 

He emphasized that EAC has shared history and should always pull together for public good and for the development of the region.   

On his part, Speaker Ntakirutimana thanked Speaker Wetang’ula for the warm reception and asked him to take the lead role in ensuring Speakers from member state parliaments’ help in addressing the many challenges facing the EALA.

He said that they have been having constraints in their budget that is very minimal saying that there is a high need to relook into Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community that helped form the EALA and revise it.

‘’The budget allocated to EALA has steadily declined over the last three years despite the expansion of the Assembly in terms of Membership and oversight activities,’’ he said.

He said that the reduction of the budget had affected the Assembly’s budget lines adversely in terms of removal/suspension/reduction of some critical activities such as outreach and sensitization, Inter-Parliamentary Relations Seminar Series and reduced committees and plenary days.

Speaker Ntakirutimana was accompanied by Hon. Hassan, Hassan Omar, and Hon. Kega James Mathenge Kanini and Hon. Kering, Zipporah Jesang Kurgat.

Other Kenyan elected members to EALA include, Hon. Iman Falhada Dekow, Hon. Kalonzo Kennedy Musyoka, Hon. Mwangi Godffrey Maina, Hon. Odinga Winnie Irmgard, Hon. Sankok David Ole, and Hon. Shahbal Suleiman Said.