The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) holds its sitting in Nairobi, Kenya, next week, with two pieces of legislation: the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016 as well as the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016, top on agenda.

The EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016 makes provision for gender equality, protection and development in the Community. 

The EAC Treaty recognises the significant contribution that women make towards progress of socio-economic transformation and sustainable growth and the importance of full participation of women and men in the economic and social development of the Partner States.

Re-introduced during the Assembly’s August sitting in Arusha, Tanzania, the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 moved by Rwandan MP Patricia Hajabakiga, aims at providing a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment through the prohibition of manufacturing, sale, importation and use of polythene materials.

Also to be deliberated on during the two week period are reports from various Committees of the House, including that of the sensitisation activities recently concluded in Partner States and a report on the activity with the EAC Audit and Risk Committee.

The Report of the Committee on Legal Rules and Privileges on the oversight activity on approximation and harmonisation of the national laws in the EAC context and another on procurement of health and group staff insurance shall also be tabled.

The plenary shall be followed by the Inter-Parliamentary relations seminar (Nanyuki Series) starting November 30.

The seminar, anchored on the theme: Good Governance and Poverty Reduction in East Africa, is expected to be attended by legislators from the EAC Partner States’ parliaments.

Conceived in 2003, the Inter-Parliamentary relations seminar is one of the avenues through which EALA and the National Assemblies of Partner States interact as per the requirements of the EAC Treaty.

The nature of the Nanyuki meetings is rotational with venues in respective Partner States.

The forthcoming seminar is intended to discuss the gap between theory and the realities on the ground in contemporary East Africa as it analyses the correlation between good governance and poverty reduction efforts.

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