Posted in Press Release
East African Legislative Assembly; Kigali, Rwanda; 15 March 2017:
The regional Assembly is calling on the EAC bloc to work closely with cross border pastoral communities to ensure the proactive and effective implementation of the Common Market Protocol.
At the same time, it is anticipated that effective operationalization of One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in the Namanga frontier shall ease trade in the area and specifically in the border areas of Longido, Tanzania and Kajiado, Kenya.
The House yesterday unanimously passed a Report of the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution on the Public hearing on Pastoral Communities on Longido in Tanzania and Kajiado in Kenya on the implementation of the Common Market Protocol projects. The report presented to the House by Hon. Mike Sebalu follows a Public Hearing by the Committee on the Pastoral Maasai Communities of Longido in Tanzania and Kajiado in Kenya on February 19-27, 2017, in the context of the Common Market Protocol.
The assessment was a follow up of the fact-finding mission earlier conducted by the Assembly’s Committee on Pastoralists living in Kapenguria and Kacheliba in Kenya and Nakapiripirit in North Eastern Uganda, in May 2012.
The Committee examined the free movement of persons in the pastoral communities as it sought to understand the level of security among pastoral communities. It further sought to identify the challenges faced by pastoralists in the context of the Common Market Protocol; and the problems thereto.
In its findings, the Committee observed that the two cross border pastoral communities of Longido, Tanzania and Kajiado, Kenya, are interrelated by blood and marriage. Essentially, the report depicts the Maasai speaking people transcend the Tanzania and Kenya borders thus share a cosmology and history that predates colonial experience.
One of the negative impacts of the Berlin Conference, the report states, is the interference and interruption of family and cultural ties of the Maasai that occupy the Longido and Kajiado plains.
“This is the historical context under which the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution undertook the oversight visit to the Maasai communities living on both sides of the Namanga border”, a section of the report states.
The report calls for proactive measures when it comes to providing rapid response, investigation and dispute resolution at community level.
According to analysts, pastoralism is a viable livelihood for a considerable population of East Africans, for over a century now. However, pastoralists have suffered prejudicial treatment reinforced by discriminatory laws and state policies. Developmental interventions in pastoral areas have been characterized by ignorance about pastoralists and the pastoral system.
The Committee’s report further states that many developmental projects have failed in pastoral areas because of stereotypical views held by those in authority (development agencies, NGOs and CSOs). Pastoral areas today are characterized by poverty, lack of economic opportunities, conflicts, low education and poor infrastructure.
The report also states in part that Namanga OSBP did not make provisions for livestock trade and still restricts trade in livestock.
The report observes that a majority of stakeholders on the Tanzanian side of the border lack sufficient knowledge on the operations of the EAC Common Market.
“Most of them thought of an existence of a big market under one roof where people meet for trading purposes”, the report says in part.
Stakeholders at Longido (Tanzanian side) expressed concern about the issue of special passage fee charged per head of cattle transiting on private parcels of land and or boreholes while taking them to the market at the Kaijado County on the Kenyan side.
On the reverse, stakeholders and pastoral communities on the Kenyan side lamented about the challenges encountered, including high population growth rates, encroachment of crop farming on grazing lands, privatization of rangelands and resultant land grabbing as well as insecure land tenure and environmental degradation.
Other challenges faced include conflicts (violent/arms), climate change and variability, unsound development and unfavourable trade policies biased in favour of crops. At the same time, the report cites cheap cows and or beef from Tanzania leading to distortion of prices, ineffectiveness of pastoral traditional risk management strategies, increased food insecurity and poverty levels among pastoralists.
During debate, Hon. Dora Byamukama noted that infrastructure had been enhanced on both sides of the border and said this was a good move aimed at enhancing trade and the integration process. “There is also a good foundation and every reason for the communities living at the border to speed up integration. The people are already moving and integrating”, she said.
“Policy makers must do their part to ensure we realise the objectives of integration”, Hon. Byamukama added.
Hon. Martin Ngoga said the communities living at the border points were ahead of the technocrats when it comes to enabling movement, mutual support to each other and business.
“In future planning, we should think of joint sensitisation programmes and joint on-spot assessments so we can understand the issues together and understand integration”, Hon Ngoga said.
Hon. Sarah Bonaya said women were key stakeholders in the pastoralists communities since they were the home makers. Hon. Bonaya remarked that the vast lands the communities owned and inherited were no longer tenable due to the increase in investments among other things.
“It is time the Communities began looking at cottage industries including other value addition initiatives as alternatives”, she said.
Others who raised support during debate were Hon. Susan Nakawuki, Hon. AbuBakr Ogle and Hon. Dr Nderakindo Kessy.
- ENDS -
For more information, please contact:
Mr Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org
Web: www.eala.org
About the East African Legislative Assembly:
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives, through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
Posted in Press Release
East African Legislative Assembly; Kigali, Rwanda; 07 March 2017:
President Paul Kagame yesterday addressed Parliament at the commencement of the Fifth Meeting of the Fifth Session in Kigali, Rwanda.
The President maintained that Rwanda’s commitment to the regional bloc, ten years after acceding to the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC was stronger than ever before, he said, lauding the Partner States for their significant contribution to the EAC and for working together to deepen regional integration.
“Much of this is as a result of political will in responding to the needs and the aspirations of our citizens of the region,” H.E Kagame said. The President said a united Africa was key and took the opportunity to inform the regional legislators of reforms aimed at strengthening the African Union by ensuring it is sustainably financed by Africa’s own resources.
“We need an African Union that is fit-for-purpose. Our continent must also have a strong and unified voice that clearly communicates the aspirations and positions of Africa on the global stage”, President Kagame said.
The President said the Heads of State had agreed to transform the annual July Summit of the continental bloc into a co-ordination meeting with the Regional Economic RECs.
“This means that greater contributions will be needed from all of you as the region’s legislators, both as strong advocates for the imperative of reform and as champions for closer cooperation between the EAC and the African Union Commission,” he added.
President Kagame further challenged the regional Assembly to enhance its oversight role in ensuring the EAC meets its desired objectives. “We therefore count on you, in the oversight role of our regional legislature to help ensure we maintain momentum and stay on course”, he said.
The President took the opportunity to speak a few words in Kiswahili much to the applause of the legislators.
“Napenda kumalizia kwa kuwakaribisha tena Rwanda na kuwatakia kila la heri katika majadiliano yenu wakati wote wa kikao (It pleases me to welcome you once again to Rwanda and to wish you well during your entire Plenary Sitting here), he said.
“I am happy as has been mentioned that Rwanda has adopted Kiswahili as an official language, in line with one of the key resolutions of the East African Legislative Assembly”, the President reiterated.
In attendance were Members of the Senate, Chamber of Deputies and high ranking government officials from the Republic of Rwanda.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega in his remarks reiterated the need for the region to collectively address and find solutions to the challenges it faces citing some of them as pursuit for peace and security, drought, climate change and the unemployment bulge.
“Ideally, time has come for the EAC to draw on its collective economic, social and intellectual resources to address the imminent challenges it faces”, Speaker Kidega said.
“Excellency, of equal importance is tolerance by Partner States within the framework of the integration process, to tackle the region’s pursuit for peace and security, drought, Climate Change, the unemployment bulge and other pressing issues”, he added.
The Speaker called for concerted effort towards the industrialization process of the region.
“There is need to embrace industrialization by instituting supportive trade related policies and frameworks that grant Partner States the right to nurture nascent industries in order to develop their competitiveness and grow economies”, Speaker Kidega noted.
He said the EAC was looking towards greatly benefitting from the operationalization of the Single Customs Territory resulting in increased intra-regional trade. In this regard, Rt Hon Kidega called for emphasis on investor confidence, enterprise and creation of a conducive environment to spur trade.
The Speaker appealed to President Kagame and his colleagues at the Summit of EAC Heads of State to ensure the funding situation which he deemed as dire, is speedily addressed.
The Speaker hailed President Kagame for his selfless commitment to the integration process.
In his remarks, the President of the Rwanda Senate, Rt Hon. Makuza Bernard hailed the rotational sittings noting it had enabled regular interactions with citizens of the Partner States. He said it was therefore necessary to reflect on the developments over the last five years at the Assembly and at the EAC while calling for the intensification of the integration process.
In her vote of thanks, Hon. Nusura Tiperu hailed Rwanda for taking the lead in implementing decisions agreed upon at the region level. She hailed Rwandans as hardworking people, committed to duty of serving their motherland and the region.
At this sitting, which is the last for Kigali under the principle of rotation before the 3rd Assembly winds its tenure, three key Bills are on the agenda. These are the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016, the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 and the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Bill, 2016.
The EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016 makes provision for gender equality, protection and development in the Community. The Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC in Article 121 recognizes the significant contribution that women make towards progress of socio-economic transformation and sustainable growth and the importance of full participation of women and men in the economic and social development of the Partner States.
The EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 moved by Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga, aims at providing a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment through the prohibition of manufacturing, sale, importation and use of polythene materials. The Bill was re-introduced during the Sitting held in August 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Bill, 2016, on its part, anticipates provision of legal framework for matters relating to sexual and reproductive health, to protect children, adolescents and young children from sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation and to provide for assisted reproductive technology and for related matters.
Also to be deliberated on during the two week period are reports from various Committees of the House, including that of the Communications, Trade and Investment Committee on the status of the Railway Infrastructure Development in the Partner States and another on the oversight activity on the One Network Area in the EAC.
A report on the newly established EAC Institutions and another one on the Pastoral Cross-Border Communities of Longido, Tanzania and Kajiado in Kenya shall also be tabled and debated. The latter report follows an oversight activity carried in the Kenya-Tanzania border by the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution while the former is as a result of an oversight activity by the Assembly’s Committee on Accounts.
- ENDS -
For more information, please contact:
Mr Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org
Web: www.eala.org
About the East African Legislative Assembly:
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives, through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
