All set for filling of 49 vacant posts in EAC Organs and Institutions as Council gives green light
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th May, 2021: The East African Community is all set to fill 49 vacant positions within its Organs and Institutions through competitive recruitment after the Council of Ministers gave the green light to the composition of a panel to undertake the recruitment.
The Council, as a once off measure, gave guidance on undertaking the recruitment of staff using a mechanism whereby members of the panel from the Secretariat have an equal voice alongside other members of the panel from Partner States for attributing marks to the candidates.
The Council, which held its 42nd Extra-Ordinary Meeting virtually, added that at both the shortlisting and interviewing levels, there should be seven persons (1 from the Secretariat/Organ/Institution and 6 from the Partner States) awarding marks from which the average will be got.
Some of the positions that have been vacant for almost two years include those of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk to the East African Legislative Assembly.
The Council further rescinded the decisions of the 39th Meeting of Council directing the EAC Ad hoc Service Commission to undertake the recruitments
The recruitment process has been in limbo after the then Secretary General and the East African Law Society questioned the legality of the Ad Hoc Service Commission at the East African Court of Justice.
The Council further directed the Secretariat to re-advertise all the previously advertised positions.
The Council also directed the Secretariat to request the court to expedite the hearing of the case challenging the legality of the Ad hoc Commission as a matter of urgency in order to enable the Council to perform its mandate to amend the Staff Rules and Regulations 2006.
The admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo received a major boost after the Council adopted a budget amounting to US$188,150 for the next financial year beginning 1st July, 2021 to be drawn from the EAC General Reserve Fund for activities related to the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Community, and referred the same to EALA for debate and approval.
The monies will, among other things, be spent on a verification mission to be conducted by the EAC on the admission of DRC as a member. The verification mission will consist of officials from the EAC Organs and Institutions as well as from the six Partner States.
The Summit of EAC Heads of State at its 21st Ordinary Meeting held on 27th February, 2021, considered a request by DRC to join the Community and directed the Council to undertake a verification mission in accordance with the EAC Procedure for Admission of New Members into the Community and report to the 22nd meeting of the Summit.
Among the Ministers who attended the meeting that was chaired by Kenyaβs Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of EAC and Regional Development, Hon. Ken Obura, were Hon. Amb. Ezechiel Nibigira (Minister for EAC Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Burundi), Hon. Deng Alor Kuol (Minister for EAC Affairs, South Sudan), Hon. Prof. Nshuti Manasseh (Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Rwanda), Hon. Maj. Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire (Minister for EAC Affairs, Uganda) and Hon. Palomagamba John Kabudi (Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Tanzania).
Also in attendance at the meeting was the EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki. This was Dr. Mathukiβs first Council meeting since assuming office on 26th April, 2021.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
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