Kenyatta to address EAC meeting

The President of the Republic of Kenya and the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, Uhuru Kenyatta.The President of the Republic of Kenya and the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Source:Daily News, by MARC NKWAME in Arusha 

MEMBERS of the East African Legislative Assembly are expected here next week for another session at the main parliamentary building.

The plenary, which will end on April 4, this year, is the fifth meeting of the second session of the Third Assembly.

The President of the Republic of Kenya and the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, Uhuru Kenyatta, is expected to deliver his first State of EAC Address on March 25, this year.

The State of EAC Address is delivered by the sitting Chairperson of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State. The Address often dwells on matters of importance to the Community.

The focus of the address reflects on matters of general policies relating to the progress that the Community is realizing, while outlining the strategic challenges which require greater attention. The first State of EAC Address was delivered by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda in Arusha in 2008.

Since then, the Address has been institutionalized by EALA and all Partner States’ Heads of State have delivered the key discourse.

In most instances, the occasion calls upon the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State to traverse the region and deliver the Address in a neighbouring Partner State where the EALA is sitting.

The Assembly which shall be presided over by the Speaker, Dr Margaret Nantongo Zziwa expects to debate on a number of deliberations and bills including EAC Integration (Civic Education) Bill, 2014 as well as receiving and consider reports from various Committees of the Assembly.

EALA is also expected to receive and meet different stakeholders as part of its representative activities. The Plenary shall be preceded by a Joint Meeting of Committees on Legal, Rules & Privileges and Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution on the proposed model of the EAC Political Federation Structure and Action Plan.

The Meeting brings together legislators, the Council of Ministers and the Department of Political Federation at the East African Community Secretariat.