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Kikwete to bid EALA members ‘farewell’

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Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete will make his last address to the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) 4thsession currently sitting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

According to EALA Speaker Dan Fred Kidega, the outgoing President, who is also the chair of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State, will address the EALA members on October 13, about two weeks away from elections in his country to be held on October 25.

Kikwete’s mandate as President of Tanzania comes to an end this month, after he has served a two-five year term.

Meanwhile, during the two-week session, the EALA will among other assignments, debate the EAC Electronic Transactions Bill 2014; the EAC Forest Management and Protection Bill 2015 and the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Bill 2015.

“We further expect to hold consultations with a number of other stakeholders during our stay here to inform the work of the Assembly to carry on with its mandate of legislation, representation and oversight. The involvement of East Africans in the process is fundamental given the fact that integration is very much ‘a people centred process’”, Speaker Kidega said and added that since he became Speaker in 2014 the EALA has passed seven Bills and seven Resolutions, and also adopted 13 reports.
The Speaker also lauded members of the 70th United nations General Assembly (UNGA), a forum at which the newly-introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted.
‘Last month, EALA benefited from a 4 day training on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) thus preparing the Assembly for the big task ahead of oversight and possible legislation around sustainable development,’ Kidega said and also hinted at polls’ process in the EAC region, where Tanzania and Uganda will hold presidential elections in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

 

‘Another key area we as a Parliament are keen on – concerns that of elections in the region.  The United Republic of Tanzania is headed for its polls on October 25, 2015 while Republic of Uganda is expected to hold a similar exercise in the first quarter of 2016. Our appeal to the Partner States is to ensure elections are held in a credible manner and that such processes fall within the ambits of constitutionalism and electoral laws’ he said, before imploring the media to ensure effective and objective reporting.

 

The Speaker also said there is need to prioritise peace and security in the EAC region, in light of the threats occasioned by the Al-Shabaab insurgents.

‘We need to fast-track the ratification of the Peace and Security Protocol in the region to anchor the architecture and also operationalize joint activities that ensure a peaceful region.  So far, Uganda, Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania have ratified the Protocol.  When the region has peace, then there is unrivalled development and progress,’ he added.

 

Earlier today Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the 2ndmeeting of the 3rd Assembly of EALA, whose sessions at the National Assembly in Nairobi will end on October 15.

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