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{
    "id": 1198647,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1198647/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 284,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Oburu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 194,
        "legal_name": "Oburu Ngona Odinga",
        "slug": "oburu-odinga"
    },
    "content": "Otherwise, all the countries of East Africa have already concluded the process of electing Members to EALA except the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is because it is a new member and now the East African community is going to have seven Members. We have been having six Members and the six Members appoint nine Members from each State. The membership of EALA has been 54. Southern Sudan have already concluded their elections just last week. Uganda Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania have already concluded theirs. This is an urgent matter that should be concluded as soon as possible because as you could see, the Treaty says the elections should be concluded 90 days to the end of the term of the current Parliament, which is 17th December. Madam Temporary Speaker, integration is not something that can be gainsaid. Integrating our economies is the way to grow our countries. We cannot expand our economies if we are a small market. It is important to follow and implement the Four Pillars of the East African Community (EAC) as urgently as possible. The First Pillar is the Customs Union, which is already implemented. The Second Pillar is the Common Market, which is at an advanced implementation stage. It is implemented through protocols. However, countries delay in implementing protocols because of their own national interests, which sometimes slows the integration process. The Third Pillar is the Monetary Union, which is also at an advanced stage. An Institute has already been established and the Central Bank is going to be here in Nairobi. The Fourth Pillar is a Political Confederation. It was originally a Political Federation but it has now been reduced to confederation because of sovereign selfishness. There are member States who want to retain more sovereignty and that is why it was moved from federation to confederation. That is also at an important advanced stage of negotiations. We are expanding the Community. It is important that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joined EAC because it expands our area of economic interest. The DRC is very rich in terms of natural resources and it is a big market for our country. Madam Temporary Speaker, I support this process. We had nine positions the last time we were elected. The Majority took five positions and the Minority took four. For elections to take place, each position attracts three participants. It means that each party recommends three people. Therefore, if you have four positions, you recommend 12. If you have five, you recommend 15, so that Parliament can vote, elect and recommend nine from the total of 27. It is a tough election. I know Members here are just from an election. In our place, it was called ‘jamna.’ People were asked to shake something called ‘jamna.’ You had to cough out something. Members have coughed out quite a lot. Please, do not overtax those who want to be Members of EALA. Be fair and select the best people to represent our interests in EAC. Thank you."
}