East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, Wednesday 2 June 2010:
The Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, Hon. Kenneth Marende (MP) today officially launched the East African Legislative Assembly Strategic Plan (2010-2012) and the Assembly’s Website www.eala.org at the Serena Beach Hotel, in Mombasa, Kenya.
The Launch was attended by among others; the Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Minister for the East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Diodorus Kamala; Rwanda’s Minister for the EAC Affairs, Hon. Monique Mukaruliza; the Permanent Secretary in the Kenya’s Ministry of EAC, Mr. David Nalo; Hon. Members of EALA; the Counsel to the Community, Hon. Wilbert Kaahwa; the Registrar of the East African Court of Justice, Dr. John Ruhangisa; the Executive Director of Lake Victoria Basin Commission, Dr. Tom Okurut; the Executive Director of the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency, Mr. Mtesigwa Maugo; and the general public.
Hon. Kenneth Marende noted that EALA had a pivotal role to play in the development and enrichment of the Community through its legislative, oversight and representation functions as enshrined in the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. “We look unto you to ensure an enhanced Community’s fabric through cultural, social, political and technological ties that will bind us forever” and it is you to ensure that the Community obtains balanced and sustainable development and that the establishment of the Common Market, Monetary Union, a Political Federation and a common language is fast tracked” asserted the Speaker.
The Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly reiterated that the EALA Strategic Plan 2010-2012 sets the benchmarks that chart out the roadmap for achieving its desired goals and objectives. He urged EALA to be committed to ensure that the deliverables outlined in the Plan are achieved by the Assembly so as to effectively and efficiently render services and dispense its mandate.
Hon. Kenneth Marende implored EALA to constitute a Monitoring and Evaluation Team to closely superintend the implementation of the Strategic Plan to ensure its success. “The successful implementation of this Plan will go a long way in firmly entrenching EALA as the epitome of our Community’s democracy and unity”, said the Speaker.
Earlier, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Hon. Abdirahin Abdi (MP), said the launching of both the Strategic Plan and the EALA Website were yet another landmark achievements in the short spell of the 2nd Assembly. He said the strategic plan was a culmination of an extensive consultative and participatory process involving all internal stakeholders and “I take pride that this is a home grown document produced by the Assembly itself with its own resources”.
Hon. Abdirahin Abdi affirmed that the EALA Website; www.eala.org; offers EALA the means to communicate actively with the citizens of East Africa and beyond and enhances public understanding of the legislature’s role and responsibilities.
The website also provides a portal of communication for Members, news and events in the Assembly, and also links to different websites of all the National Assemblies/Parliaments, EAC Partners States, EAC Secretariat and other partners of the Assembly such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Department of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
EAC Secretariat – Arusha, Tanzania
For clarification/enquiries, please contact:
Owora Richard Othieno
Ag. Head of Department
Phone: +255 784 835021
Email: othieno@eachq.org