House calls for nominees to Eala slots
The battle for nine positions at the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) has kicked off in earnest after Parliament asked those interested in nominations by political parties, or as independent candidates, to submit their applications.
Acting Clerk of the National Assembly Sara Kioko and her Senate counterpart Jeremiah Nyegenye said those seeking to vie through parties should submit their applications by next week, Wednesday. Those interested in being elected on independent tickets should submit their applications on or before November 9, they said.
The two added that once the applications for those vying through political parties are received, they will be transmitted to the concerned parties, which shall then nominate and submit the names to the presiding officers on nomination day.
Report to Arusha
The term of the current Eala membership is expected to end by December 20. By then, the nine legislators should have reported to Arusha, Tanzania, seat of the regional legislature.
All the EAC countries, except Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo, have already elected their representatives.
“A person seeking to be nominated for election by a political party shall submit his application (together with certified copies of certificates and testimonials), indicating the political party whose nomination they seek, to the presiding officer ... on or before November 2, 2022,” said the duo.
They added: “On election independent of a political party, pursuant to rule 4 of the Eala rules, 2017 (election of Members of the Assembly), Wednesday 9 is hereby appointed as the nomination day. In accordance with nomination rule 10, the papers shall be delivered to the presiding officers on the nomination day, commencing at 9am and ending at 4.00pm, at County Hall.”
Eala membership currently stands at 62, with nine elected members from each of the six East African Community (EAC) partner states — Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi — and eight ex-officio members. Eala is an independent arm of EAC that advances the interest of the bloc, besides providing oversight.
Article 50 of the Treaty says the national assemblies of each partner state shall elect, not from among its members, nine members of the Assembly, who shall represent, as much as it is feasible, the various political parties represented in the National Assembly, shades of opinion, gender and other special interest groups in that partner state, in accordance with such procedure as the National Assembly of each partner state may determine.
And pursuant to the Assembly’s rule 12, those interested in inspecting the nomination papers of any candidate will have the opportunity to do so on November 10 and 11.
Currently, those representing Kenya include former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua and Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s elder brother, Oburu Oginga (currently Siaya Senator).
Others in the outgoing Eala team are Kennedy Musyoka, who is Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s son, and Wanjiku Muhia, who this year won the Kipipiri MP seat after ousting former leader of Majority Amos Kimunya.
Yet others are Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi, who recaptured the seat he lost in 2017 election, former-Wajir Woman Rep Fatuma Ali, former Mbalambala MP Omar Abdikadir and Jematiah Florence (Baringo Woman Rep).
Kioko and Nyegenye also reminded interested individuals that those who qualify to be elected should be guided by Rule 3 of Eala elections, Article 50(2) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, Article 99 of the Constitution, and section 22 of the Elections Act, 2011.
Yesterday, the Joint Committee on the Selection of Members, co-chaired by former Eala MP and now Kipipiri legislator Wanjiku Muhia, and Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo, held its first meeting and agreed to kick start the election process.
A person is deemed qualified to be elected a Member of the Assembly by the National Assembly of a Partner State if the person is a citizen of that Partner State, is qualified to be elected a member of the National Assembly of that Partner State under its Constitution, is not holding office as a Minister in that Partner State, is not an officer in the service of the Community, has proven experience or interest in consolidating and furthering the aims and objectives of the community.
Yesterday, the Joint Committee on the Selection of Members, co-chaired by former Eala MP and now Kipipiri legislator Wanjiku Muhia, and Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo, held its first meeting and agreed to kick start the process.
