-President Kikwete expected to address the EALA Assembly today-
By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
The 1st Meeting, 3rd Session, 2nd Assembly of the East African legislative Assembly (EALA) on 6th August 2009 passed the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) Bill, 2008 after adopting the report presented to it by the Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments Chaired by Hon. Catherine Kimura of the EALA.

Article 92 of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community, requires the EAC Partner States to harmonize their policies on Civil Aviation in order to promote the development of safe, reliable, efficient and economically viable Civil Aviation with a view to developing appropriate infrastructure, aeronautical skills and technology, as well as the role of civil aviation in support of other economic activities.

The Protocol on the establishment of the East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency was signed by the three founding member states (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) on 18th April 2007.

The CASSOA Bill therefore aims at consolidating the provisions of the Protocol to establish and empower a regional body that will streamline and ensure that the highest international standards are maintained in the aviation industry.

The Bill is now awaiting Presidential Assent before it becomes an act of the community that will regulate matters of air safety and security oversight in the Aviation Industry within the EAC region.

Meanwhile, H.E Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the republic of Tanzania is expected to officially address the EALA and official open the 1st Meeting of the 3rd Session today 7 th August 2009 at 2:30 PM at the National Assembly-Old Chambers (Karimjee Hall), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Background

The EALA is the legislative arm of the Community, which came into being on 29th November 2001 with representatives from the three Partner States of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The Membership expanded in July 2007 with the admission of two sister Republics of Burundi and Rwanda. The MPs from the two Partner States took oath on 13th May, 2008 and have since then continued to make their valuable contribution to the EAC integration agenda.

The EALA comprises of a total of 52 Members, 45 elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and 7 Ex-Officio Members comprising five Ministers responsible for EAC affairs, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community. The legislative lifespan of the Assembly is 5 years having commenced on 5th June 2007.

It is important to note that the laws enacted by the EAC have the full force of law and take precedent over similar laws in the Partner States on matters related to the Community. In addition to passing legislation, the Assembly has adopted several resolutions and reports relating to the developments in the Community.

The Assembly is keen on the integration process and will seek to provide the required legislative framework and oversight to ensure that the integration agenda remains on track.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahom.com

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From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Subject: EALA PASSES CASSOA BILL

SPEECH BY H.E. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, TO THE FIRST MEETING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE EALA, DAR-ES-SALAAM,

7TH AUGUST, 2009

By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu city

It gives me great pleasure to be back to the floors of the East African Legislative Assembly this afternoon. I thank you Honourable Speaker for inviting me and for affording me the opportunity to address this august Assembly.

At the outset, allow me to welcome you to Tanzania and Dar-es-Salaam in particular. I understand this is the first time the EALA is sitting in Dar es Salaam, the commercial hub of Tanzania. I trust that you will find the haven of peace befitting its name and that you will transact your business in a comfortable and hospitable environment.

Honourable Speaker and Distinguished Member:

As most of you know, I was an ex-officio member of this legislature since its inception until I became President of my country in December 2005. I continue to hold dear my role as a member to this esteemed body. I recall with fond memories our work in this Assembly during the challenging formative period when the EALA was trying to establish its feet on the ground.

I am happy to note that, since its establishment in 2001, the EALA has lived up to the expectations of the East African people. Back then, when we were discussing the establishment of this Assembly, there were some “doubting Thomases” who predicted its failure. They were saying that, time was not ripe for the EAC to establish a legislature with the mandate and authority encapsulated in the Treaty establishing the Community. Those sentiments of apprehension have been proven wrong. Indeed, and in a very fundamental way, those sentiments smacked of a gross misconception about the nature and character of our regional integration endeavour.

Honourable Speaker;

It was the vision of the Founding Fathers that the EAC shall be a people-centred regional organisation. An organisation owned by the people of East Africa, responsible to them and responsive to their needs and aspirations. They envisioned that the East African integration process would be driven by the ideals of democracy underpinned by consensual decision making. It is in this respect that the EALA was established as an organ of the EAC to give expression to these democratic ideals in the Community. Therefore, with its representativeness as well as the mandate and authority this Assembly carries, makes it a true embodiment of these ideals and, indeed, an important and principled instrument in our integration process.

Deliberately the East African Legislative Assembly was given legislative and oversight roles which has made this Assembly a proper functioning Regional Parliament. To this extent, the East African Community is unique on the Continent.

Honourable Speaker and Distinguished Members;

I can dare say without hesitation or reservation that, the EALA has done well as far as the discharge of its mandate and authority is concerned. You have done a commendable job in the oversight role with regards to EAC’s programmes and activities. In many ways this has helped to ensure that the Community effectively fulfils the mandate vested on it, and that it is also accountable for its work. Also, the EALA has acquainted itself admirably in the legislative function thus giving legal effect to several EAC policy decisions. As we deepen our integration the EALA would necessarily experience an increase not only in the complexity of the issues to be handled but also in the magnitude of your legislative activities. Given your achievements so far, I am confident that you are prepared to meet those challenges.

Equally, EALA’s outreach programmes, even in the face of limited budget resources, have also contributed, in no small measure, to the sensitisation and education of the broad East African masses on our integration agenda, its achievements and challenges. I wish to take this opportunity to commend you, Mr. Speaker and all the Members of this House, for your leadership and your commitment to EAC goals and ideals.

Honourable Speaker;

In November this year, the East African Community will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Ten years, in the life of an institution that is involved in complex regional integration issues, is too short a time to make an objective assessment of its performance. But still, we are obliged to reflect on where we have come from, where we are now and what remains to be done in the light of our vision and mission.

It is my hope that, in November, my colleagues, the other EAC Heads of State and I, will have the opportunity to address the East African people on these broad issues. However, since I have the opportunity today of addressing this august House, I feel the urge to kick start a reflection on some of these issues of critical importance to the success of our regional integration.

Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members,

As you are aware, regional integration efforts in East Africa have a long history. There is the pre-colonial part of this history where the seeds of integration were sewed. And, there is the post colonial part where there was a chequered history: consolidation, break-up and reinvention. I would like to limit myself to the post-colonial period where as independent nation states we share responsibility for the success and failure of the integration process. As you may recall, at independence the three East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika inherited the East African Common Services Organization (1961 – 1967). This was a successor organisation to the East African High Commission the initial regional integration arrangement established by the colonial Governors of our three countries.

In 1967 the three independent states decided to transform the East African Common Services Organisation into the East African Community. The East African Community could not survive for long due to challenges posed by divergent and conflicting nation-building projects pursued independently by member states. Also, because of inherent weaknesses imbedded in East African Community structures and operational modalities and mechanisms. It painfully collapsed in 1977 a mere decade after inception. We all share responsibility for that bitter memory. However, bitter memory as it is, we should not allow it to be a source of weakness, but of our courage, strength and commitment toward realizing our integration goals under the current arrangements. That is what the founding fathers of the current Community did.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members;

It took sixteen years before President Ali Hassan Mwinyi (Tanzania), President Daniel Arap Moi (Kenya) and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Uganda) signed the Treaty to revive the East African Co-operation. The three Heads of State signed the Treaty for the East African Co-operation in Arusha, Tanzania, on November 30, 1993 and in March, 1996 established the Secretariat and Tri-partite Commission to set in motion the integration process we are currently experiencing.

Since then, a lot of work was done with remarkable success, on building cooperation on the core areas as agreed in the 1993 Treaty. Several Protocols were signed to give effect to the cooperation agenda. These achievements are the ones which paved way for the re-establishment of the East African Community (EAC) through a Treaty which was signed by the EAC Heads of State on 30th November, 1999 and came into force on 7th July, 2000. The Treaty identified the Customs Union as the entry point for the East African integration process. This would be followed by a Common Market and a Monetary Union and a Political Federation would be the ultimate goal.

Indeed, the EAC Customs Union commenced on 1st January, 2005 with five years transition period to give effect to the principle of asymmetry. Under the Customs Union, internal tariffs and non-tariff barriers on intra-EAC trade were removed and a Common External Tariff was introduced for goods from outside the Community. A Common Customs Management Law was enacted by this Assembly to that effect. The process of integrating the economies of the EAC Partner States began and the transition period is coming to an end by this year end. By January 1st , 2010, the East African Customs Union will be fully fledged.

It is heartwarming indeed, that as we are about to complete the transition period of the Customs Union, our negotiations for the establishment of the Common Market are on track. This is a very healthy sign that we are making steady progress in our integration process. It is important however, for the EAC Partner States to make an evaluation of the EAC Customs Union to assess its impact, strengths and weaknesses. Use the outcome to consolidate the strengths and rectify the shortcomings for the benefits of the Partner States. Such an assessment, also would enable us to determine if there has been a change in the structure and direction of intra-EAC trade. The structure of intra- EAC trade prior to the commencement of the Customs Union was dominated by commodities from abroad, and the direction of trade was skewed towards non-EAC Countries implying that we were trading more with the rest of the world than among ourselves. It is therefore important to determine if there has been an improvement in these areas.

Honourable Speaker;

As we work toward the conclusion of the negotiations of the Common Market Protocol by November, 2009, if all goes according to plan, we should understand that the Protocol is expected to deepen our integration and widen the scope of cooperation and usher in new opportunities and challenges. Some of the opportunities and challenges are going to be crosscutting while others are going to be country specific. We should always bear in mind that nations and peoples engage in regional integration groupings with the hope of benefitting equitably. Each expects to maximise benefits while the others benefit too. In fact this is the essence of regional integration and designers and negotiators should always keep this in mind. Failure to do so defeats the purpose and keeps the foundation weak and vulnerable.

For example, Common Market will add more areas of cooperation including labour and capital mobility; the facilitation of the movement of persons; right of establishment; cooperation and harmonization of policies and strategies on social-economic, cultural and scientific fields, macro-economic stability and financial management. These additions are going to affect each country differently. For example, a poorly managed liberalisation of the intra-regional labour market may lead to increased unemployment in some partner states and cause resentment in these nations. Similarly, if we are not careful in the liberalisation of the capital markets we might face capital flight and balance of payments problems. These fears and worries of people of East Africa were clearly captured by the Wako Committee Report.

Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members;

As you are aware the East African Heads of State at the Nairobi Summit of 28th August, 2004 agreed to establish a committee (the Wako Committee) “to examine ways and means to expedite and compress the process of integration, so that the ultimate goal of a Political Federation is achieved through a fast track mechanism.” The Committee submitted its report to the Heads of State at the November 26th, 2004, Summit in Arusha. The Committee recommended that the East African integration process be fast tracked and the transition to political federation should start by 2010. The Committee also underscored the centrality of ensuring that each country benefits equitably and that the concerns of individual member states are given due attention.

With regard to Tanzania, the Committee’s report stated clearly that the people of Tanzania have serious reservations about the issue of free movement of labour and land becoming an East African property. The Wangwe Committee, which was our internal process which searched for Tanzanians’ opinion on fast tracking the East African Federation, came out with similar findings. It revealed that 96.7 percent of Tanzanians, indeed an overwhelming majority, said Yes to the idea of establishing a political Federation. So, in essence, almost all Tanzanians are in favour of the Federation. But when it came to fast-tracking the Federation, 75 percent of Tanzanians did not think it was a good idea. The same is true with Kenya and Uganda. ……..percent of Kenyans and…..percent of Ugandans favoured the Federation but the majority in both countries………percent in Uganda and ……..percent in Kenya did not favour fast-tracking the Federation.

Tanzanians also expressed fears on issues of land and free movement of labour.

Unfortunately, the views expressed by the people of Tanzania have widely been misunderstood to mean that they are against East African Federation. This is not the case. In fact, more Tanzanians supported the Federation than any of the three East African countries then. But fewer Tanzanians supported fast tracking than their brothers and sisters in Kenya and Uganda. They are cautious about hurried integration. Since the fears are real, they should not be downplayed, ridiculed or ignored. They should be taken regard of and ways allaying them should be sought. Tackling fears and concerns of member states is one important lesson to draw from the failures of the defund East African Community.

It is important, therefore, that the worries and concerns of peoples of each country be taken into serious consideration as we negotiate the Common Market Protocol without being baffled in propaganda. Enemies of our course are too anxious to downplay our EAC achievements, exaggerate our differences to an extent of becoming suspicions and hostilities. We should be on guard and remain focused on our integration priorities. We must not allow such distractions to derail us from our noble course.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members;

I mentioned earlier on that the collapse of the former East African Community has had serious implications during the negotiations of the Treaty for the new Community of 1999. Of particular interest then where the lessons of the past so as to avoid the mistakes made then. The idea was to avoid those mistakes so as to create a viable, sustainable and everlasting regional integration grouping. Besides, the issue of making the new EAC people centred rather leader centred the other issues taken into consideration included:

First, the 1999 Treaty took into account some of the weaknesses which were embodied in the institutions and processes of the former East African Community. The principle of asymmetry became one of the guiding pillars of our integration and it has proven to work well. Articles 77 and 78 of the East African Community Treaty, for example, provide measures and safeguard to address imbalance and serious economic injuries to member states emerging from the establishment of a Customs Union and a Common Market. These provisions are critical for the creation of win-win situation which is the very essence of regional integration.

Honourable Speaker;

It is in this spirit that when the East African Customs Union came into force those provisions were applied. The East African Customs Union negotiations were concluded in 2004. In the agreement, goods produced were divided into category A and B. While category A commodities from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda entering the EAC market were eligible for immediate duty free treatment, those in category B coming from Kenya entering into Tanzania and Uganda were eligible to pay tariff for period of five years. The tariffs are gradually being phased out. So far, things have worked so well and according to schedule. As mentioned earlier, from January 2010 all goods from Kenya will start enjoying the same treatment as goods from Tanzania and Uganda do at the moment. Rwanda and Burundi who joined only a year a go will benefit like all other countries. We should congratulate ourselves for these achievements.

Second, the experience of the former EAC indicates that one of the contributing factors to its collapse was inadequate provision for participation of the private sector and other stakeholders in shaping the Community. The current EAC Treaty (1999) has drawn from this experience and has therefore placed greater emphasis on fostering regional development that is private sector driven and internationally competitive. The Treaty thus places Private Sector Development at the heart of the EAC strategy for accelerating regional growth, creating wealth, reducing poverty and enhancing international competitiveness. Business Council representative have permanent observer status within the decision making organs of the community. The fruits of this emphasis are widely being felt.

Honourable Speaker;

In this respect, it is important to emphasize that the thrust in promoting and developing the private sector should be through improved business environment, institutional and human capacity building that spurs increased trade and investment on one hand, and production and productivity of private sector firms. These issues should be on top of the Common Market Agenda.

Third, the spirit of the Treaty toward realization of its goals is progressive or incremental in spirit. The progressive and incremental integration approach as enshrined in the Treaty is intended to strengthen and regulate cooperation in a harmonious and balanced manner. Each stage of cooperation reinforces the next stage of integration and hence leads to a sustainable regional integration process. The founding fathers seem to have realized this as Article 76 (2) of the Treaty on Common Market testifies “the establishment of the Common Market shall be progressive and in accordance with schedules approved by the Council.” This approach has worked very well in some of the re-known regional integration organisations including the European Union which is one of the most stable and progressive economic integration scheme.

All these lessons which have been embodied in the current Treaty have contributed immensely to the achievements the EAC is experiencing now. As we appreciate these achievements let us not lose sight of these lessons. In fact, they are so important now than ever before as the deepening of the EAC integration process is taking place at a time of immense global financial melt-down which is already affecting our economy negatively. The impressive growth rates of our economies witnessed in the last decade are projected to decrease. This situation implies that some of the goals that we set ourselves will not be attained according to the original schedules. Nonetheless, this means Partner States would have to work harder in order to compensate the loss in the gains that we had accumulated in the last decade and attain the pre-crisis development trajectory. Your contribution in this endeavour is critical and would be highly appreciated.

Honourable Speaker;

Allow me to use this opportunity to reiterate our readiness to face the challenges of the envisaged EAC Common Market. We believe that the collective efforts of the Partner States and continued commitment to the EAC integration agenda would lead to more prosperity for the region because of the immense opportunities associated with a Common Market.

As I conclude my speech allow me to reiterate the fact that integration process is an ongoing process. There are many challenges ahead of us, many issues to negotiate, including the Common Market. And these negotiations are a process in both statecraft and diplomacy. And diplomacy derives its legitimacy and morality from patience, understanding, courtesy, empathy, civility and tolerance. It is important that our negotiation process – and indeed our journey towards our ultimate goal – be guided by these virtues and lessons learned from our past experience on integration process. All of the Partner States have signed on in this project voluntarily and with clear belief that the EAC objectives will serve the interests of their people. No one wants integration more than the other; no one wants integration less than the other. We are all in this together. I urge other entities in our region, particularly the media in our respective countries, to help inform and educate our people about these issues and not to stoke emotions and create a storm in a tea cup.

The major challenge for all of us remains how to strike a balance between regional and national interests in the negotiation process.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Invited Guest;

Allow me to end my remarks by once again thanking you for holding your session in Dar-es-Salaam and for giving me this honour to address you. I hope you will find time out of your tight schedule to explore the beauty of Dar es Salaam and hospitality of the Tanzanian people.

I wish you fruitful deliberations and a pleasant stay in Tanzania.

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

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From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Subject: PRESIDENT JAKAYA KIKWETE OPENS THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLAIVE ASEMBLY IN DAR

Report By Leo Odera Omolo.

Sugar cane farmers in Nyando cane growing zones have resolved to stop row cane delivery to the Muoroni Sugar Factory with effort from March 1st 2009 unless the government revoke the contracts of the two joint receiver managers.

The farmers want the KENYA Sugar Board allowed to pick up the most suitable receiver managers, and not a relative of Raila Odinga, who they accused of incompetence, inefficiency and non-performing

The resolution to this effect unanimously passed at the well attended meeting of farmers held at KIipsitet market in Ainamoi constituency Kericho District last Saturday.

Muhoroni sugar factory is situated in Nyando District but it is also catering for cane farmers from other cane growing zones extended to Ainamoi and Belgut constituencies in Kericho, Koru, Fort Tennan and part of south Nandi Districts.

Muhoroni Sugar Factory is currently under the official receivership and the farmers are protesting against the recent the renewal of the contracts of the joint receiver manager Eng. Martin Owiti and Mr. Kipng’etich Bett

The two have served as the joint receiver managers for both Muhoroni and Miwani Sugar Companies, for the last four years, but the farmers have accused then for failing to turn around the ailing sugar company.

In a letter dated February 17,2009 and addressed to the Public Pocurement Apeal Board of Receivers for both Muhoroni are Miwani Sugar Companies and copied to the Kenya Anti corruption commission (KASS) the farmers bitterly complained of what they farmed as the gross interference in the award are subsequent appointment of receiver manager for both Muhororni and Miwani Sugar Companies.

The letter is signed by Jeremiah Kitur Chairman of Nandi Sugar belt co-operative Union ltd Mr. Bill Adero a director of Muhoroni sugar

Outgrowers Company Ltd, Eng Gilbert Ondis a farmer in Miwani area and Mr, Samuel Korir representative of Soin Cane growing zone in Kericho..
The letter states as follows; “On 23 Octo0ber 2008 the Kenya Sugar Board(KSB) had advertised and called for application the post of receiver managers for both Muhoroni and Miwani sugar companies in anticipation of the expiry of the terms of the two joint official receiver managers on FEBRUARY 9, 2009.

On 2ist January 2009, the first interview which was scheduled to take place following the short listing of five applicants was abruptly cancelled and called off by the KSB at the last minute as candidates waited for what is believed to have been a ”gross interference by the Office of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Subsequently the matter came up as a question in Parliament, which was deferred for a later date in the future clarification..

Later on another interview was called and held on 10th FEBRUAY 2009 in which the board directors sat and interviewed a number of candidates. It was then resolved that the current receiver managers be replaced.

The letter went on “As farmers we believe that the decision of the KSB take into account the poor performance of Messrs Belt and Owiti as joint receiver managers in the following area.

Payment for the cane delivered by the farmers is in arrears of 3 months. Accidentally burn canes is being paid for at 2000 per ton instead at KSHS.2500 per ton.

There is widespread inefficiency at the Muhoroni Sugar factory. For example it takes three to four days for a tractor to off load its cargo of raw cane from the farms at the company’s cane yard.

The letter further stated that there is shameless selective harvesting of cane in favor of the members of managerial staff and workers in stead of cane from the field owned by the out grower farmers.
.
It further accused the joint receiver managers for the misuse of the money from the Sugar Development Fund(SDF which was allocated for boiler No 4 amounting to to abut Kshs 250 million) and alleged that the same boiler is non-performing as at per present time. It is dead and not working despite having consumed millions.

Farmers money was used in the Purchase an overhead crane at the factory, which currently not performing as way expected.

The Suagr recovery extracted from the raw is at present below than the required standard which means the factory is not efficient and need overhauling and major repair
.
In spite of all the foregoing ,we understand that the Prime Minister office has directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture to extend the tenure of the current non performing receiver manager in total disregard for the resolution of the KSB that they be replaced.

In view of the above and having a direct interest in the operation of the two sugar companies the farmer of Muhoroni and Miwani Sugar companies now appeal to your good office as follows;

1. The resolution of the KCB in respect to the appointment of new receiver manager be uphold so that the farmer can benefit from their sweat
2. That the Prime Minister Raila Odinga be restrained from gross interferences in the procurement process. “We understand the Spectre International, a company associated with the Odinga family was a bidder for the purchase of Miwani Sugar company limited.(currently under the official receivership})and that one of the rejected receiver managers that Mr. Odinga is insisting on being retained is believed to be a member of his family from Sakwa Bondo.

By copy of this letter, we wish to bring this matter to the attention of all relevant arms of government for appropriate action.

Bur contacted on of the joint receiver managers Eng Martn Owiti scoffed at the farmers threat of boycotting can delivery for the factory sugar the matter use a government decision.

He accused the directors of one of the sugar factories within the locality of having spent a fortune trying hard to destabilize Muhoroni Sugar Company by sponsoring all these sorts of unwarranted agitation, The factory in question is also situated within the Nyando sugarbelt .Its bosses are corruptively dishing out money to undermine Muhoroni suagr Company.

Document available to us indicated that the KSB board had selected the firm of Enmg J Pete and B. Bosire to be hired at KSHS 1.8million per month instead of Eng M.Owiti and K .Bett for KSHS2 per month, Others companies which had been short listed include W P. Kahi who asked for Kshs.700,000 per month. Wachira KSHS.850,000 per month and Mwangi and associates who asked for Kshs 400,00 per month.

End
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

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Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:51:32 -0800 [07:51:32 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: MUHORONI SUGAR CANE FARMERS IN THREAT TO BOYCOTT DELIVERY OF RAW MATERIALS TO THE FACTORY WITH EFFECT FROM 1ST MARCH AND ACCUSED RAILA ODING OF GROSS INTERFERENCE IN RECEIVERS APPOINTMENT

by leo odera omollo

A Strategy Retreat for Key Organs and Institutions of the East African Community was held in Kigali , Rwanda at the Serena Hotel on 9-10 February 2009. The Retreat, the first of its kind brought together the top leadership, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Heads and Senior Officials of Government, EAC Organs and Institutions; and representatives of the business community and civil society. The Retreat was convened by H.E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community who officially opened the Retreat on 9 February.

The Retreat was held against the background of deepening EAC integration with the ongoing operation of the Customs Union, which was established in 2005, and the advanced progress towards the establishment of the Common Market, which is expected to be in place by January 2010. The EAC recognizes the need to constantly keep a step ahead in maintaining harmonious working relations among its organs and institutions to meet the new challenges and expectations of regional integration within the fast evolving world economic and social order.

Over 100 participants attended the Retreat, including Ministers, Members of the EAC Council of Ministers, the Speaker and Members of the East African Legislative Assembly, Judge President, Principal Judge, Registrar and Senior Officers of the East African Court of Justice; the Secretary General and Deputies Secretary General of the East African Community, Heads of the EAC Institutions ( Inter-University Council for East Africa, Lake Victoria Basin Commission, East African Development Bank, Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency) , Senior Government and EAC officials; representatives of the business community and civil society; and the Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

The Strategy Retreat with the theme “Collaborative Work Culture in the EAC organs and institutions for a Stronger East Africa”, focused on a review of the current operations of the EAC organs and institutions, sharing of views and insights on their effectiveness against their mandates under the EAC Treaty, which was signed in 1999; and drawing of lessons from other regional efforts in terms of collaborative work ethic among the EAC organs and institutions and between them and the Partner States.

President Kagame calls for unified, shared sense of purpose and commitment

In his Keynote Address to the Retreat, H.E. President Kagame said the vision of regional integration was a voluntary and dedicated political partnership based on pragmatic building blocks and time-bound milestones and targets. He said the organs and institutions of the Community should strive to improve their collaboration and strengthen their sense of shared purpose to perform better, individually and collectively, in order to realize the benefits of regional integration. He said that among the benefits of regional integration were larger markets, economies of scale, larger pools of human, financial, and physical capital. East Africa , he said, had the advantages of a rich legacy of socioeconomic, political and cultural interactions. He said these advantages should be consolidated by strong, first rate formal institutions embracing a learning attitude, continuously internalizing new knowledge, innovation and good practices to drive the East African integration process.

President Kagame said the EAC should build on the demonstrated strengths and successes of its established organs and institutions, seeking joint solutions to persistent challenges, and working closely with their multiple stakeholders and constituencies among the business community and civil society towards enhanced integration, removal of barriers to trade, increased investments promotion, movement of people, goods and labour, and bolstering employment opportunities.

He said the EAC organs and institutions , their leaders and staff – especially the Secretariat, the East African Legislative Assembly, and the East African Court of Justice – should adopt and operate with a broader regional viewpoint and ambition, projecting a truly East African character as opposed to being extensions of individual Partner States’ bureaucracies and vested interests. He said it was fundamental for the EAC to adopt a culture of self-assessment and stocktaking as the basis for investment in human capital, processes and systems for building assets, talents, and competencies required to drive the integration agenda effectively. He stressed the role of the private sector in the integration process stating that the EAC organs and institutions should adopt business friendly attitudes and practices – each providing its respective competency to promote wealth-creation and realization of a viable integration process based on a dynamic and well-functioning economic market.

Secretary General pitches for competitive regional economy

The Secretary General of the East African Community, Ambassador Juma Mwapachu said the Retreat offered a rare and unique opportunity to begin a crucial conversation on how best to forge coalitions of purpose that would galvanize efforts in promoting deeper EAC integration. He said the Retreat was being held at a time when the global financial and economic climate was at best gloomy and worrisome, challenging the regional integration framework to become, more than ever before, the bulwark in promoting greater competitiveness and shoring the economies of the region against the deleterious effects of a globalization that had turned awry. EAC needed to respond to these challenges of making the EAC national economies as well as the regional economy more vibrant and robust. He said the Retreat was driven by the notion that the transformation of EAC’s organizational work culture as well as the development of better clarified roles and relationships of and between EAC organs and institutions could leverage EAC’s performance leading to the realization of higher gains in the integration agenda.

Delegates offer candid reflection on EAC performance and need to step up collaborative commitment

Hon. Amason Kingi, Minister for East African Community, Kenya said it was a time to be open and candid in recognizing and accepting the challenges facing the Community and resolving to do something about it. He said it was becoming increasingly apparent that the EAC engine was not moving smoothly as it should, hence the convening of the Retreat to see where things were not going right and determining to remedy the situation. He said the founding fathers had intended the EAC organs and institutions to work together with the single and undivided purpose to midwife the integration process. He said EAC needed to come up with a culture of collaboration and team spirit to realize its goals for the benefit of the people of East Africa . The organs and institutions of the Community should project the face of the Community. They should see things as East Africans and not turn themselves into advocates or defenders of national interests at the expence of the greater regional interest. He said that from the top political and executive leadership of the EAC organs and institutions to the professional cadres and bureaucrats engaged in the EAC project, there was no option but to champion the EAC cause and realization of the Vision of the EAC Treaty through the stages of the Customs Union, already established, a Common Market, currently being negotiated, subsequently a Monetary Union and ultimately Political Federation.

Hon Mohammed Aboud, Deputy Minister for East African Co-operation, Tanzania observed that the financial crisis currently engulfing the developed countries would soon be felt in the East African region. With the decline of EAC’s traditional markets and the attendant reduced demand, retrenchment of direct foreign investments and tourist activity from the traditional sources, the pinch was slowly biting. This would further compound the global food and fuel crisis and galloping inflation recently experienced. The creeping world economic crisis would affect the implementation of critical regional projects such as infrastructure. He said the region faced a serious crisis and it was important to change the ways of doing things and take the necessary steps to mitigate the effects of the looming crisis.

The Vice Chairman of the East African Business Council Mr. Keli Kiilu said there was urgent need to involve the EABC deeper in the integration process as an organ or institution of the Community beyond the “Observer” status it has occupied since 1996 in the EAC. He said that the lesson from the current global financial crisis was to place the private sector at the forefront of the regional integration process. He said with the ongoing consolidation of the EAC Customs Union and the advanced process towards the establishment of the Common Market, the role of the private sector should become more pronounced and deeper entrenched. There should be more communications flow between the EAC and EABC and harmonization of their operations, work culture, ethics and vision of the EAC. He said EAC bureaucrats and senior officials of the Partner States assigned to the EAC project should be working in the Community, not to advance national interests but to promote the integration process. They should not be seen to be blocking the integration process but promoting integration. He said quite often decisions reached at the regional level were not communicated down to the operational levels and departments of the Partner States thus impinging on the progress of integration, in particular, he mentioned decisions concerning relaxation of border controls. Mr. Kiilu lamented the over-reliance on external investors at the expense of promotion of East African productivity, manufacturing and export. EAC, he said, should do more to promote local manufacture and investments to create export capacity as well as promote intra-regional trade by facilitating free movement of factors of production and , on the whole, reduce the costs of doing business in the region .

Conclusions and recommendations: towards a “new era” for EAC

At the conclusion of the Retreat, the delegates made far reaching observations and recommendations under what they dubbed the “Kigali Spirit” that would guide the operations of the EAC organs and institutions to a more rapidly achieving regional organization in the new era.

In their recommendations, the delegates emphasized the need for a re-affirmation of commitment to the spirit of regional integration requiring deliberate efforts by the EAC Partner States , organs and institutions as well as civil society and business community to prioritize the regional integration agenda within their respective national agendas.

The delegates called for a professional and ethical re-orientation of the EAC establishment to build an East African spirit among the staff of the East African Community. The delegates proposed the establishment of an EAC Public Service Commission, EAC Parliamentary Service Commission and EAC Judicial Service Commission. They proposed the introduction of standard terms of service for staff of all the organs and institutions of the Community and institution of a system of motivation and rigorous performance evaluation of staff on the basis of undivided loyalty to the Community and contribution to the realization of its vision and mission.

The delegates called for streamlining and strengthening of internal and external communications of the EAC to involve systematic, continuous consultations among the Heads of the organs and institutions of the Community and structured regular meetings to plan, review, monitor, and coordinate their programmes and exchange views on the implementation of the regional projects and programmes. They proposed the establishment of a strengthened central public information and communications office at the EAC Secretariat that would coordinate dynamic public information flow from the organs and institutions of the Community, utilizing advanced communication media, including print and electronic media and the Internet.

The delegates proposed measures to ensure effective implementation of EAC decisions and to this extent the need to set up regional mechanism for monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of EAC Council of Ministers decisions at the regional and national levels; monitoring and evaluation of implementation of EAC Acts passed by EALA at the national levels; and establishment of clear political leadership and responsibility for regional projects and programmes by clarifying the role of the Council of Ministers , including assigning specific portfolios to the Members of the EAC Council of Ministers.

On Budget issues, the delegates proposed urgent review from the current system whereby of equal contribution by Partner States and over-reliance on external funding of regional projects to a more sustainable and self reliant sourcing of funds for regional projects and programmes.

The delegates resolved to sustain the “Spirit of Kigali” and, to this extent, proposed that the EAC Strategy Retreat be institutionalized into an annual event and include holding of quarterly meetings of the Heads of EAC organs and institutions, biannual meetings of the Heads of the organs and institutions of the Community with the Chairperson of the Summit; and establishment of a Task Force to follow up the implementation of the recommendations of the Kigali Retreat. The full report and recommendations of the Kigali Retreat will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and Summit of Heads of State for consideration and decisions.

ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

– – –
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:15:23 -0800 [02/16/2009 05:15:23 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: SUMMIT CHAIR CONVENES HISTORIC MEETING TO USHER “NEW LOOK” EAC

By Leo Odera Omolo

Uganda has declared it will destroy passport worth Ushs 4 billion (USD 710,000) designed for the East African Community before Rwanda and Burundi join the regional bloc

The document will be redesigned to include the two new BAS members, although the printing of the earlier passport was stopped primarily because the equipment broke down two years ago.

The immigration department which planned to issue the passports to 70,000 Ugandans says the detective printer used outdated technology that relied on lamination at the applicant’s photograph into the travel document.

Although immigration departments across the region have sense introduced new technology to curb passport forgeries, EAC passports have not been upgrades because of the need for consensus by member countries

That site, Uganda had a huge crock of printed passport books that causes not be issued using the new technology, which involves scanning and embedding the photographs in the passports.

News emerging from Kampala qualified officials as saying that the Ugandan government pursing machine supplied by UK firm De ha Rue in 1995 is now in serviceable; although it can still capture data and do laminating work, it cannot do the final printing.

De ha Rue experts had inspected the machine and continued that there are neither spore parts for the neither old machine nor new machine of the same make because the opted for new technologies.

Mr. Wilberforce Ngonde, the Uganda ’s Assistant Commissioner for immigration weekly as saying that DeLa Rue has advised the government to buy a new machine, whose lost, is yet to the determined.

“To sort out the problem, we will have to buy a new machine and destroy the unused stock of old passport book, which lost USD 710,000. The government said forced to incur the lost because the old machine cannot be serviced. It is a scrap,” said the Minister of State Internal Affairs, Maria Kasaija.

It has been established that in spite of failing to print the passport in the past two years, the immigration Department continues to reject new applications for the EAC passports

The official says demand for the passport has shot up with the coming on board of Rwanda and Burundi.

Uganda says it will put off issuing of the passport initial a redesign is endorsed by the region. They further stated that the Each African immigration chiefs with new features that would be contained in the new passports then pass them to the Council of Ministers of the EAC for approval.

It major issue for discussion during the design is the logo for the passports as the current document does not reflect the new member presence in the community old EAC passports.

East African passport are supposed to ease movement of East Africans across the boarder of the member countries. For example holders such passports do not need to have the stamped each time they cross regions as boarders. A stamp is valid for at least six months

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

– – –
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:21:12 -0800 [08:21:12 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: UGANDA TO SCRAP EAST AFRICAN PASSPORTS WORTH BILLION OF SHILLINGS