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{
"id": 1418991,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1418991/?format=api",
"text_counter": 43,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof) Kamar",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 33,
"legal_name": "Margaret Jepkoech Kamar",
"slug": "margaret-kamar"
},
"content": "aimed to build knowledge, assess key issues and formulate actionable strategies for mobilising support for the FMP Protocol. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the objectives and expected outcomes of the Working Session included- (1) To educate African Parliamentarians about the FMP Protocol, focusing on its benefits and opportunities; (2) To engage Member States in assessing key issues affecting the ratification of the FMP Protocol; (3) To identify and address Parliamentarians’ concerns and misconceptions; (4) To equip Parliamentarians with effective lobbying strategies for ratification; (5) Improved understanding and support for the FMP among Parliamentarians; (6) Increased participation of Parliamentarians in FMP-related discussions; and, (7) Development of an action plan for mobilizing support for the FMP Protocol. The Working Session followed a comprehensive work programme after the opening remarks that were made by several luminaries, including, Mr. Alvin Lawrence, representing ECOSOCC General Assembly and National Chapter; Mr. William Carew, Head of ECOSOCC Secretariat; Mr. Harou Massa Gali, the Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Business and Conferences at the PAP; and myself, representing the Chairperson of the PAP Permanent Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters, which I opened officially. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Kenya is an active player in Africa economic integration initiatives. Kenya, alongside Ghana, was the first to ratify and deposit instruments of ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). On 7th October, 2022, the AFCFTA Secretariat launched the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative in Accra, Ghana, to allow for commercially meaningful trade under the agreement to commence for eight participating countries because the protocol requires that any aid will commence. The following countries had qualified at that time. They included Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania and Tunisia, representing the five regions of Africa. As at August, 2023, 47 of the 54 signatories which is 87 per cent of all the countries in Africa had deposited their instruments of AfCFTA ratification, Kenya included. While the AfCFTA recognises that free movement of persons is essential for achieving its broader goals of economic integration, prosperity and poverty reduction in Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC) saw the need to develop a protocol on the free movement of persons. This is because you cannot have a free trade area without ensuring that there is free movement of persons. This, therefore, gave rise to the protocol to the treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to free movement of persons, right of residence and right to establishment as a key instrument within the AfCFTA framework. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this protocol provides guidelines for facilitating the movement of people across African countries. It covers aspects such as visa policies, residence rights and establishment rights. It is good to note that Kenya is one of the countries that are way ahead since the declaration by our President that there are no visa requirements"
}