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{
    "id": 769877,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/769877/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 100,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "some boundary disputes or trade disputes can be easily resolved within the body of EALA. The EALA was formed with a purpose of assisting member states to be able to adjudicate on issues of trade, immigration and, of course, the common currency. If we see the genesis and evolution of this body, Kenya is at fault because we disastrously failed to honour our obligation by June, 2017. Albeit however late it may be, it is important that we act with speed and be able to do the elections as has been already proposed for next week, so that the EALA can be up and running. There are many issues. Most of our trade is within the East African Community. About 60 to 70 per cent of Kenya’s trade is with her neighbours. These are the people who are jumpstarting our economy and yet, we are not able to respond to a need of a political organisation in the name of EALA, which helps us assess some of these things. I am of a very strong opinion, having heard and experienced before, that even the Cabinet Secretary, who will be in charge of the East African Community, must be somebody who knows what the Community is all about. We have gone through the evolution of this organisation. We need a concrete relationship between our neighbours and ourselves. That is the only way we can resolve some of the problems we have, such as the grazing problems. If this issue of nominations to the EALA had been resolved amicably, the headaches we are experiencing would be a thing of the past. The issue about who is carrying a particular goat across the border should not be a matter of concern at this moment of time in our political evolution. Therefore, I support this list and hope that when the time comes, I shall exercise my right to nominate or elect a candidate who will be representing the interest of this country. I listened to the Senate Majority Leader saying that there will be colours of Jubilee – he hopes it will be red. That is the first indication of rigging, and we have gone beyond this rigging process. Let us have a list of men and women who will represent this country, knowing fully that we have an issue that we want to settle through the legislative process, through EALA. It reduces a lot of tension and infighting within member states. In most of the cases, some of the tribes are straddled across the borders. If we talk of Luhyas in Busia, we have them both in Kenya and Uganda. If we talk of the Turkana people, they are both in Kenya and Uganda. If we talk of the Maasai, again we have them in both Tanzania and Kenya. We need to make their lifestyles easier by ensuring that the Members we will nominate and elect to the EALA will carry the flag of Kenya. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope that at the time of voting, we will have an opportunity to look through the list again and see how it would be suitable for Kenya to have a very robust team representing us in the EALA. With those few remarks, I support."
}