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{
"id": 1272501,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1272501/?format=api",
"text_counter": 298,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kipipiri, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Wanjiku Muhia",
"speaker": null,
"content": "there have been suggestions that the Treaty needs to be amended. The amendments need to be fast-tracked, hand in hand with other regulations like the 2017 Non-Tariff Barriers Act. The non-tariff barriers framework is not in place. We should not say that roadblocks should not be there. Instead, how many should be there? For instance, how many roadblocks should there be between Nairobi and Namanga or from Dodoma to Tabora? Finally, there is need to create awareness. As the Chairperson of this Committee, I have continued to create awareness. That is how I broke protocol at the State House when my Cabinet Secretary was called to create awareness in the country that EAC exists. These are just some of the recommendations. There are quite a number. The key recommendation, which I would like Members who will debate to discuss, is on the East African Court of Justice. We contribute money to the court. The EACJ was established almost two decades ago. To date, it is still an ad hoc court. It does not work full-time. What justice do we give EAC citizens if a judge only works for three weeks and retreats back to their country for the rest of the time? To date, the court is still temporary; it is hosted in Arusha, Tanzania, temporarily. It is up to EAC, through the Council of Ministers, to agree that this court will be permanently based in Arusha and that chapter will be closed. Most importantly, through the Council of Ministers, each partner state must agree that the EACJ must work full-time. Hon. Okiya Omtatah could be headed to EACJ instead of bothering us here in Nairobi. However, he is aware that if he goes to EACJ, the court may not be sitting. Many EAC citizens have matters, but they are unaware of when the court sits or will sit. That is justice being delayed. With those many remarks, I beg that Members deliberate the EAC matters passionately because this is the way to go. For the information of this House, we just gave views on the political confederation a month ago in Arusha. This means we are already fast-tracking the final pillar of EAC, a political federation. But because we are not yet at a point where we can have one EAC president, the transition is the confederation. This is almost being realised. Hon. Temporary Speaker, Members need to realize, understand and embrace matters of the East African Community so that when we have a confederation tomorrow, we will not ask how it came about and where it came from. We should guide our citizens by telling them about the opportunities available in EAC and how they can trade. Because they are informed, Uganda and Tanzania trade more in small-scale businesses than us. They continue to inform their citizens through their Parliaments. Let us embrace matters EAC. Let us speak to the citizens about it so that the mama mboga in Kenya can be aware when there are no vegetables in Tanzania, but there are onions and carrots, so they can also trade. There is free trade of close to 300,000,000 people. The Democratic Republic of Congo is already on board. Our citizens are not aware of the opportunities that are there. Let us speak and embrace matters EAC. With those remarks, I beg to move the Motion. Through your approval, I request Hon. Beatrice, a member of the delegation, to second. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}