East African Business Week

BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI-The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Abdirahin Abdi has said  the assembly has created its own space within the East African Community as a legislative organ over the last decade.
‘We are the only regional legislature in the world with legislative powers, other than the European Parliament. This is an achievement to be proud of,” he said last week while addressing journalists during an advanced training session on reporting regional integration organized by the EAC and GIZ in Bujumbura, Burundi.
He said the EALA has passed over 30 pieces of legislation crucial to the integration process.
“There are some pending bills which the assembly shall strive to enact into laws that facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the integration process,” he said.
“EALA is able to demonstrate its stability as a regional assembly, examples abound in cases where we have withheld approval of budgets and re-aligned it to the priorities of the EAC,” he noted.
“Not only do we participate in the numerous regional and international Parliamentary activities but we are more often than not called forward to share our experiences,” he said.
He explained that the SADC-PF, ECOWAS and PAP Parliaments for example are looking at replicating our model in the future.
He asserted that the assembly continues to engage in an outreach programme that enables them come into contact with many East African.
“The assembly has visited and talked with villagers, business community, scholars, civic organizations,” he said.
As a result of its effective participation, a lot of interest towards support of the Assembly and the community has been registered,” he added.
He said the assembly has fully supported and spearheaded the integration process of the EAC with dedication, vigour and transparency.
“Beyond that we consider ourselves to be the voice of the East African people and as a result we have marketed the integration process to East Africans,” he said.
“On the budgetary oversight, we have played a crucial role by providing direction on the EAC spending and allocation of resources and this mandate is provided by Article 132 (5) of the Treaty,” he added.
“The mandate has provided an important opportunity for EALA to debate the budget and allocate resources in line with the priorities of the community,” he said adding that the assembly carries out on-spot assessments to ensure the various programmes and projects of the EAC remain on track.
“Over the past, EALA has sent delegations to monitor elections and referenda in the partner states and beyond, the region has undergone a full cycle already and this a new cycle begins with the elections in Kenya next year,”