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{
"id": 1476397,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1476397/?format=api",
"text_counter": 310,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Belgut, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Nelson Koech",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Union that is relating to the Pan-African Parliament. The Protocol was adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of States and Government held on 27th June 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. It governs the operations of the Pan-African Parliament with an aim of enhancing the full and effective participation of African people in the economic, development and integration of the Continent. I am sure many Members of Parliament, without prejudice, have really never understood how the Pan-African Parliament operates. This Protocol makes it easy for countries to understand the role of the Pan-African Parliament. This particular Protocol has given specific areas of how the structures will be modelled. The Protocol has outlined the composition, powers, functions and structure of the Pan-African Parliament, including its organs such as the plenary and committees. It seeks to provide a voice for the African people and diaspora to promote African Union (AU) policies, uphold human rights, democracy and good governance, as well as foster co-operation. Additionally, the Protocol aspires to advance peace, prosperity and solidarity across Africa, while promoting regional integration and active involvement of the African diaspora. This will be very interesting to the Members of the Pan-African Parliament because, for the first time, other than what was provided for by the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament will be able to have some established kind of order in terms of how the committees will be running; how the plenary will be running and so on. The Protocol and the accompanying Parliamentary Memorandum on the Ratification of the Protocol from the Ministry of the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs were laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 8th of August 2023 and, subsequently, committed to the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. Pursuant to Article 118 of the Constitution, 1 (b) and Section 8 (3) of the Treaty Making and Ratification Act, Cap 4d, the Committee placed an advertisement in two local dailies on the 16th of November 2023, calling for the submission of memoranda from the public regarding the ratification of the Protocol. However, by the close of the deadline, the Committee had not received any memoranda for or against the ratification of the convention. Like I was saying, not many people really understand how the Pan-African Parliament operates. As I said, even Members of Parliament struggle to understand how it operates. I hope that this Protocol will make it very easy for Members of Parliament and the public from all the countries that have Members seconded to the Pan-African Parliament to understand it even better and appreciate the role that the Pan-African Parliament plays in the African Union and enhancing co-operation between African countries in this platform of parliament in the Pan- African Parliament. In its deliberation, the Committee was briefed by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs on 5th December 2023, who presented the justification of the proposed ratification of the Protocol. Hon. Deputy Speaker, having considered the Protocol and analysed the submissions made, the Committee observed the following; 1. The Protocol aligns with the Constitution of Kenya and upholds the constitutional values. 2. The Protocol could advance the participation of the African people in governance, safeguarding democratic principles, protecting human rights and promoting good governance across the Continent by giving a voice to the African citizens and diaspora. 3. The Protocol will facilitate the integration and development of Africa and strengthen the democratic framework of the African Union by creating a platform for elected representatives from the national parliaments to engage in continental affairs. To date, I am certain, other than the information that is brought before the House and reports that are brought by Members from the Pan-African Parliament, it will be very few, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}