By Cedric Karungaru and Fridah Chomba
Kenya’s representatives to the 5th East African Legislative Assembly Members (EALA) will for the next two days undergo an induction course, albeit inconveniences that they may have been caused by the sudden change of the exercise dates.
State Department for the East African Community (EAC) Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat yesterday said that the ministry proposal was to conduct the induction in early January 2023, but the governments feeling was that the members needed to have basic and important information before the swearing in which will take place on December 19.
The PS noted that the government was committed to organising an in-depth country orientation to share with the members some of the key issues in which the country would like to support in order to promote Kenya’s national strategic interests.
“Members need to understand the intricacies of how the EALA Assembly works and nurture relationships with other colleagues in the East African community,” he added, saying they have a technical team from the EAC State Department that will give the inductees additional information on the EAC agenda, strategic needs and position of Kenya.
Also in attendance was Wanjiku Muhia former member of EALA serving as Chairperson of Regional Integration and who encouraged the inductees to have a delicate balance and not to antagonise the relationships with member States.
“One of the main objectives of EALA is to maintain peace in the region and we are here to guide them in their new duties,” Muhia said.
She further advocated strongly for the government to increase the Ministry of EAC allocation saying the Ministry is normally allocated minimal funds making it difficult for legislators to discharge their mandate.
David Ole Sankok a new inductee to the EALA team expressed his enthusiasm having been selected for the position.
“Our mission will be to strengthen and deepen integration in the region. We will go there as team Kenya carrying the aspirations of all Kenyans and we will make sure the community comes together to achieve the pillars of the EAC,” he noted.
The new team was nominated on November 17 after Parliament supported their bid to represent the country in the regional assembly.
The nine are Winnie Odinga, Kennedy Musyoka, Hassan Omar, David Ole Sankok, Suleiman Shahbal, Kanini Kega, Maina Mwangi, Zipporah Kering and Falhada Iman.