EALA session resumes today in Nairobi

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) will, today, resume its plenary sessions in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.According to a statement from the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, the plenary which takes place from Monday 16 to Thursday 26th is the Fourth Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Second Assembly.Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, who is also the Chairperson of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State, is expected to deliver his speech at a Special Sitting on Tuesday, April 17.Patricia Hajabakiga, Rwanda’s EALA member, last Thursday, said the members have been in committee meetings in various partner states.“For instance, there is a committee meeting in Kigali which is seeking public opinion regarding the EAC HIV and Aids prevention and management bill 2012 before it’s tabled before the house in Nairobi next (this) week,” she stated.The Assembly to be presided by the Regional Assembly Speaker Abdirahin H. Abdi, shall during the two-week period debate the EAC customs management act (amendment) bill, 2011, EAC community’s emblems (amendment) bill 2012, EAC HIV and Aids prevention and management bill 2012.Other bills to be deliberated are the EAC conflict management bill 2011, election bill, 2012 and the human rights bill, 2011.All the bills will appear for the 2nd and 3rd Reading.This is the last plenary of the current Assembly to be held in Nairobi. Its last session in slated for June 2012 in Arusha, shall also witness the inauguration of the third Assembly.During the Assembly, members will receive and consider reports from various committees of the Assembly and motions and questions brought before the House.They will also debate the report of the committee on legal, rules and privileges on compliance to the treaty provisions and EAC laws as well as the one on communication, trade and investment on oversight and related matters. A key report on tourism, conservation and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Agriculture and another on civil society organisations’ activities for women, youth, children, persons with disabilities and other special groups are also to be tabled by the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources and the Committee on General Purpose, respectively.EALA is the legislative Organ of the EAC. Its Membership comprises a total of 52 members, of whom 45 are elected (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).

National

EALA session resumes today in Nairobi