President Mwai Kibaki with members of the EALA after addressing a session at parliament buildings, Nairobi
President Kibaki assured that the Kenya Government, in its operations, will continue to give priority to the Community agenda.
The Head of State made the remarks during an address to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) fourth session sitting at Parliament buildings in Nairobi.
Saying the session comes at a critical moment when the pace of integration has gained momentum with the implementation of both the Customs Union and the Common Market Protocol, President Kibaki commended EALA for the oversight role it played and the legislative achievements the august assembly has made.
"As we embark on the EAC flagship projects and programmes it is my hope that the Assembly will play its rightful role to ensure their timely and effective implementation," observed the President.
The President commended the progress made in the implementation of the Customs Union established in 2005 and the intended positive results generated over the last five years of its operation.
The Head of State stressed that the Common Market launched in July last year has increased interest from both the citizenry in the region and foreign investors who continue to inquire on the available opportunities.
"This is clearly demonstrated by the trend in intra-EAC trade over the period. For example, the value of the total intra-EAC trade rose from 1.8 billion US Dollars in 2004 to 3.5 billion US Dollars in 2009 representing a growth of 94 percent. A closer look at both the exports and imports of each one of the partner states reveals similar upward trends," said the President.
In this regard, President Kibaki emphasized the need to conclude the remaining annexes to the Protocol on the Common Market to enable the Community in the region to benefit from a working single market.
While the business community has continued to play a commendable role of embracing the Customs Union and investing in various parts of the Community, the Head of State stressed the need for improved business environment in the Community.
Towards this end, President Kibaki enumerated a number of areas which need to be addressed, including elimination of the Non-tariff Barriers such as prolonged clearing procedures and regulations that have continued to make doing business in East Africa expensive.
The Head of State encouraged the EALA Honourable Members to pay special attention to this area and develop viable solutions to the problem saying their efforts have continued to play a significant role in deepening and widening the integration process.
For the East African Community to emerge as a competitive trading area, President Kibaki said the state of the region’s infrastructure has to be excellent.
He stressed the need to upgrade and modernize the outdated railways network while at the same time extending it to other parts of the Community.
"I have no doubt that although the amount of money required for this kind of network overhaul is huge, this can be achieved if all stakeholders work together," said the President.
With regard to traders in small and micro-enterprises sector, President Kibaki stressed the need to develop strategies that will support the sector and make the business environment conducive in the regional arena.
On political developments in the Sudan, the Head of State noted that the ongoing implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and specifically the just concluded referendum on the Southern Sudan is encouraging.
President Kibaki, specifically, commended the leadership of both the National Congress Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for supporting the outcomes of this democratic process and expressed optimism that the outcome of the referendum will have positive implications for the East African Community.
As part of the integration process, President Kibaki invited EALA legislators to visit the countryside and sample Kenyans’ hospitality.
The President, at the same time, urged citizens of the EAC partner states to embrace one another as brothers and sisters.
Noting that Kiswahili is a language that is spoken widely in the East African region, President Kibaki encouraged its use by the East African Legislative Assembly.
East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdirahim Abdi commended the people of Kenya for conducting a peaceful referendum on the new Constitution.
On his part, National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende called on the East African partner states to increase to a minimum of 10 per cent the budget allocation to the agricultural sector.
Mr. Marende said East Africa needs to address the persistent food shortages so as to attain self sufficiency in food production.
Legislative business before the EALA fourth session sittings in Nairobi includes debate on the EAC Elections Bill – 2nd and 3rd Reading, the EAC Service Commission Bill 2nd Reading, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Bill and the consideration of various Committee Reports and Motions.
This session takes place at a time when the negotiations on the EAC Monetary Union, being the third step in the four-tire integration process, have commenced.
EALA is of the view that the negotiations on the EAC Monetary Union, needs to be an all inclusive process involving all stakeholders in tandem with the directives of the EAC Summit in 2007 that decided to fast track the achievement of the Monetary Union by 2012.
The Assembly is also marking its decade commemoration in all partner states this year, and will be climaxed with a wide range of envisaged activities to be observed in Arusha, Tanzania on November 29th.
The occasion was also attended by East African Community Minister Prof. Hellen Sambili, EALA members and several senior Government officials among others.
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