Western Province Governor Celestin Kabahizi was yesterday elected Rwanda’s representative to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), replacing former lawmaker Jacqueline Muhongayire, who was appointed Minister for EAC Affairs in July. Kabahizi, 53, convincingly defeated his Social Democratic Party (PSD) colleague and former lawmaker, Aurélie Gahongayire, after garnering 72 votes out of the 94 members present. The voters were composed of both members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. "I am just happy for the confidence they had in me. I thank all MPs who have elected me and also assure everybody that I will do my best to do what is required of me in the EALA,” the governor told The New Times shortly after the election. Kabahizi has more than 30 years of experience in governance at various levels. The man who has been Western Province Governor for the past five years holds two degrees in economics and statistics and is no stranger to issues of governance, decentralisation and rural development. Kabahizi did his first degree in statistics and then obtained another in economics before enrolling for a master’s degree in management development economics in 2002 in Germany. He has a good command of English, French, and Swahili, and can fairly communicate in German as well.  CompositionEach East African Community member state has nine MPs in the legislative organ of the Community, in addition to an ex-officio member– who is usually the country’s minister for EAC affairs, the EAC secretary-general and the counsel to the Community.  Muhongayire, a former Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Assembly, who had been an EALA member for five years and chaired the Standing Committee on Accounts, replaced Monique Mukaruliza in the EAC affairs ministry.

Rwanda in EALA The EALA has 45 elected Members and seven Ex-Officio Members who are the ministers for EAC affairs in the partner states, the EAC Secretary-General and the Counsel to the Community. Besides Governor Kabahizi (above), Rwanda representatives to EALA include;-Member                                PartyPatricia Hajabakiga             RPFAbdul Karim Harelimana      RPFChristophe Bazivamo           RPFPierre Celestin Rwigema      RPFDr Odette Nyiramirimo        PL Dr James Ndahiro                 PLWDsStraton Ndikuryayo              YouthValerie Nyirahabineza          Women