National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has been selected to chair the East African Community Bureau of Speakers Forum after being nominated by fellow Speakers in the region during their 13th meeting held in Kampala,Uganda.
Muturi was selected during a meeting which brought together the Speakers of the EAC National Legislatures and the East African Legislative Assembly which is being held on the side-lines of the on-going 10th Edition of the EAC inter-parliamentary games
Top of the agenda of the forum was the hosting of the East African Parliamentary Institute, (EAPI) by one of the member states,whereby Kenya expressed interest, arguing that she has already invested in her very own, Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST) where members and staff of the Kenyan Parliament and County Assemblies receive training and knowledge management in various capacities.
This therefore put her as a front runner in the bid to host the institution and with the full support and confidence from the other partner states to take on the mandate, Kenya was therefore asked to formally apply to host EAPI through the Secretary General of the Community, with the assurance that the Speaker of EALA in consultation with the ministry responsible for EAC affairs would facilitate the application by Kenya.
The issue of the establishment of childcare facilities in East African Community Parliaments was also discussed in the forum following a proposal brought forward by Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga, who cited the International Labour Convention (2000), which proposes innovative ways that employers can help female employees to be effective and have equal opportunities with male colleagues.
The Bureau of EAC Speakers later visited the creche (Day care centre) at the Parliament of Uganda and lauded the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Parliamentary Commission for the initiative which they all resolved to establish facilities in their respective legislatures.
Muturi attended the forum alongside Senate speaker Kenneth Lusaka. The forum was hosted by the Speaker of Uganda Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, the out-going chair of the forum,Speaker of the National Assembly of Burundi, Pascal Nyabenda; Martin Ngoga, the EALA Speaker, Tulia Ackson, Deputy Speaker of Tanzania Parliament and House Clerks from various partner states.
The forum which meets twice a year, has continued to strengthen the role of Parliaments in the integration process in accordance with Articles 49(2)and 65 of the Treaty that established the EAC, as well as facilitate the development and implementation of policies that meet the aspirations of the East African region.
