East African Legislative Assembly
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East African Legislative Assembly Swahili: Bunge la Afrika Mashariki |
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|---|---|
| 3rd EALA | |
| History | |
| Founded | November 2001 |
| Leadership | |
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Speaker
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| Seats | 52 (45 elected; 7 ex officio) |
| Website | |
| www |
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The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is a sub-organ of the larger East African Community, being the legislative arm of the Community. Members are sworn into five-year terms.
EALA had its first sitting in Arusha, Tanzania on 29 November 2001. It had been founded the day before. The first Speaker of the Assembly was Abdulrahman Kinana of Tanzania. The first Assembly, including members from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, was dissolved in 2006.
The second Assembly expanded as Rwanda and Burundi joined the EAC in 2007. Abdirahim Abdi of Kenya was the Speaker of the second Assembly.
Nine elected members from each country and seven ex officio members make up the membership of the East African Legislative Assembly. Members are elected by the legislatures of each country. To make sure there are women represented there are 2 female members from Kenya, 3 from Tanzania and 4 from Uganda.
Ex officio members include the ministers from each country responsible for regional co-operation, a Secretary General, and a Counsel to the Community.
The elected members of the second EALA (2007–12) break down by political party as follows:
The responsibilities of the East African Legislative Assembly are:
EALA is empowered to make its own Rules of Procedure and to constitute Committees. The adopted Rules of Procedure (as amended in February 2003) provide for a Committee System of seven standing committees, but may also appoint Select Committees when need arises.
The seven standing committees are:
The composition and leadership of each of these Committees is equally shared among the Partners States.
Since its inauguration, EALA has held several sittings as a Plenary in Arusha, Kampala and Nairobi. During these sittings, EALA has:
The Committees have continuously got briefs from the Secretariat and given advice with regard to progress in the implementation of the Treaty.
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