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{
    "id": 758236,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/758236/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 123,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mariru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13400,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Kariuki Mariru",
        "slug": "patrick-kariuki-mariru"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I rise to support this Motion. As you know, the greatest trade partners that Kenya has are the East African countries. I am told the leading trade partner country with Kenya is Uganda. However, there have been a lot of challenges in trade among the three countries, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Therefore, the extension of jurisdiction of this court seeks to address that particular matter. There have been questions around trade between Kenya and Tanzania where our businesspeople have really complained of lack of a level playing ground between Tanzania and Kenya. Now that the jurisdiction of that court is being extended to include trade and investment, I think it speaks to the heart of the EAC. So, it goes beyond the political federation and many other considerations as to why we came up with the EAC which really has got everything to do with trade and investment. When we extend the jurisdiction of this court, to my mind, we are really giving a platform and an opportunity to our people to do trade. So, when there is a dispute, traders will now have a place to go to be addressed formally. When we extend the jurisdiction of this court to include trade and investment, it gives meaning to the EAC Monetary Union, EAC Customs Union and also the East African Community Common Market. The three are the threads that revolve around the EAC framework. This is such a critical matter that the new Constitution of Kenya 2010 gives the National Assembly the mandate to approve and ratify such protocols. We have to ask ourselves the implication of these protocols to our people. The Treaty Making and Ratification Act of 2012 under Section 8 gives this House the opportunity to discuss protocols that directly affect our people. I am also keen to note from the Report of the Committee that in accordance with Section 3 of the Treaty Making and Ratification Act, 2012, the Committee itself had an opportunity to engage the general public in Kenya. The public was afforded time to give feedback on the implications of this Protocol to their lives in terms of trade and investments. Finally, it is also important to know that the ratification of such a protocol is partly the responsibility of the Executive. It is good to note that the Cabinet approved this in the memorandum that is part of the Report. I think this is a very important decision that we are making because it goes to the heart of the East African Community, especially in the area of trade and investment. 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."
}