Kidega implores EAC heads of state on security in Burundi, South Sudan

PIC: Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Daniel Kidega

THE Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Daniel Kidega has urged the Summit of the EAC Heads of State to move with speed, firmly resolve and put to end the insecurities in Burundi and South Sudan, which was recently admitted into the grouping.

This was during a meeting with the President of the Senate of Rwanda, Bernard Makuza at his Chambers in Kigali, Rwanda on Monday.

The two leaders underscored the need for peace and security in the region terming it a necessity for the EAC to realise its objectives, a statement issued by Assembly Senior Public Relations Officer, Bobi Odiko said.

The two countries have experienced political turmoil and violence leaving hundreds of people dead and many wounded as rival groups fight for power.

EALA, Kidega revealed, would before end of its tenure in June 2017 undertake a regional study on genocide ideology and hate speech.

The Assembly, he said, will establish a Select Committee to carry out the study, commissioned following a series of resolutions by the Assembly condemning genocide, its ideology and denial.

The Resolution on the study, moved by EALA member, AbuBakr Ogle (Kenya), urged the EALA Commission, to establish a seven-member team which will, among others, look at the security ramifications of genocide ideology and attempts to deny or minimise its scale and severity.

Kidega assured that the assembly would scale up on its sensitization and outreach program in the region saying citizens stood to benefit immensely.

"EALA held successful outreach engagements with stakeholders in April and June 2016, in Rwanda and in all the partner States and this is an area we shall enhance in the future" he said.

The EALA Speaker also seized the opportunity to brief his counterpart, Bernard Makuza on the Assembly's progress.

Makuza hailed the regional assembly for taking its rightful place in strengthening the integration process.  He maintained that decorum was key in all democratic Parliamentary institutions as a way of accommodating diverse views and opinions.

The President of Senate urged EALA to take sensitisation of citizens a notch higher saying many citizens were yet to fully appreciate the accrued benefits of integration.

Makuza added his voice to finding sustainable mechanisms for Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to address the often funding constraints.

Responding to allegations that Burundi had barred trading of commodities along its borders with Rwanda, Kidega said the Assembly would investigate on the issue in order to ascertain the facts.

"The Communications Trade and Investment Committee shall ascertain the facts. However, it is important to add that the region is implementing the Customs Union and the Common Market and it would be counterproductive for partner States to deprive citizens of the associated benefits", he said.

The EALA Speaker holds frequent meetings with Speakers of the National Assemblies/Senates in the EAC region to update them on EAC/EALA matters. The EAC has also institutionalised the Bureau of Speakers, the umbrella body that EALA and the National Assemblies champion the cause of Parliaments in the region, towards enacting legislation, oversight and representation and plays a key advisory role to the Summit of the EAC Heads of State. The Bureau of Speakers which convenes annually, met in April.