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{
    "id": 887374,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/887374/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 264,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kajiado South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Katoo ole Metito",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13239,
        "legal_name": "Janet Marania Teyiaa",
        "slug": "janet-marania-teyiaa"
    },
    "content": "Kenya has also leveraged on technology to facilitate issuance of visas, notably the e-visa. There are already underway continental efforts to promote intra-Africa trade. You remember the tripartite arrangement which was brought by this Committee and which we ratified and adopted as a House. It is an arrangement among the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It was an agreement for continental free trade for the whole of Africa. Such facilitation of free movement of Africans within the continent should be encouraged. It is worth noting that the Protocol is alive to the sovereignty of the member states and recognises that its implementation shall be in accordance with the national laws and procedures relating to entry, residence and movement of free nationals. At times we may look at it like a clause that claws back, which member states may invoke to safeguard their interests. It also has the potential to undermine the implementation of the Protocol as some member states may invoke it to deliberately maintain the status quo . There is always the fear of the unknown. Some of the member states may try to resist that change. They may use that clause that always refers to their national laws to safeguard their interests. Finally, the sensitisation conference recommended the following: First, the AU and the regional economic communities of member states should synergise activities and programmes relating to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in tandem with the implementation of the AU Protocol on Free Movement. We ratified the Protocol on African Continental Free Trade Agreement shortly before we went for the long recess in the last Session. That is in tandem with what we are discussing today. You cannot say that we have a continental free trade agreement for the whole of Africa when we do not have free movement of persons within Africa. These need to be harmonised. Secondly, the AU and the member states should utilise the regional consultative processes for the promotion of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons among AU member states. The regional consultative processes are these regional economic blocs like COMESA, EAC, SADC and Maghreb. If they use those regional consultative processes, they can promote and fast-track the ratification of this Protocol. Thirdly, the AU member states should also involve their regional and national parliaments, private sector and civil society in the dissemination of information on the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. As much as we have regional economic communities or blocs, we also have regional parliaments. The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is one of them. There is also ECOWAS and the Pan-African Parliament. If, as countries, we involve our regional assemblies and parliaments to sensitise the populace about the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, it will help in disseminating information. The AU, the respective regional economic communities and member states should coordinate the process for exchange of data on mobility of persons in the region. Rwanda has 21 exit and entry points. They have signed and ratified the Protocol. They have an inter-border management system which integrates all the exit and entry points. As I said earlier, Rwanda is a pacesetter for the EAC on exit and entry points. It is possible to combine migration with good border management. With 21 entry and exit points and a very good border management system, we can learn from them and other partner-states in Africa. That is what I talked of in terms of exchange of data on mobility of persons in the region. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}