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{
    "id": 486276,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/486276/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 397,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Emanikor",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1092,
        "legal_name": "Joyce Akai Emanikor",
        "slug": "joyce-akai-emanikor"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Report and plead with the House to adopt it because it is a good Report. I am very proud to be a Kenyan and to be a citizen of this country. I am proud of being a senior Member of East African Community (EAC). The EAC is only fourteen years old – its treaty was signed on 7th July, 2000. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, when I look at the Report, I see EALA haS enacted so many laws. This is good and it shows that EALA is doing a commendable job. This report acknowledges the fact that many citizens of the EAC are not aware of its existence and the benefits member countries draw from it. For this reason, the EAC has set aside some money to do sensitization of the citizens on the work of the East African Regional Integration. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the intention of EALA is to realise ratification of various protocols as proposed, and this is a good thing. Proposals ratification of instruments on foreign policy, co-ordination, information technology and many others. When these are ratified this will enhance and ensure harmony and cohesion. These protocols will further uplift those East African countries that lag behind in development and will further help the EAC to benchmark globally. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, to give an example of the one of the protocols, we have phytosanitary measures which will ensure inspection of all imported and exported goods, particularly agricultural products, to detect animal and plant diseases and avoid their spread. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, these protocols set out basic standards and rules for food safety. They allow the EAC to set its own standards, but, of course, taking into consideration of each country’s specific dynamics. The protocols will further provide trade restrictions for the safety of the EAC citizens. The defense sector has made significant progress, despite, of course, many incidents of terrorism which we have experienced in the recent past. But EALA countries have a regional capacity to counter terrorism. It has adopted the East African Counter- Terrorism Strategy, 2014, and my only concern is that Kenya, being a senior member of EAC, and a fast advancing country, should have ratified the Protocol on Defense Co- operation, which only Uganda and Rwanda have ratified. I support this Report and urge my colleagues to adopt it."
}