The East African Legislative Assembly’s coffers have dried up due to non-remittance of contributions from some of the eight East African Community member states.
Due to that therefore, the regional parliament representing the eight EAC countries, and which usually sits in Arusha, Tanzania, is facing serious financial constraints.
An official statement from the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) informed members of the public and stakeholders of the decision to temporarily postpone the regional parliament’s planned activities.
The East African Legislative Assembly therefore goes into hiatus for the period of six months from January to June 2025 due to lack of funds for running the parliamentary activities.
EALA always sit for its Budgetary sessions during the sixth month of the year, it is therefore not known if there will be funds for that when the time comes.
According to the Senior Public Relations Officer of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, Nicodemus Ajak Bior the decision to suspend the pillar’s activities was reached during the Sitting of the EALA Commission and Committee Chairpersons.
The special assembly meeting which was held on the 6th February 2025, in Arusha, was meant to review the Assembly’s calendar and discovered that the EALA is running short of funds.
Ajak Bior explained further that, in the meantime, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Joseph Ntakarutimana, has initiated a follow-up discussion with some top community officials.
The EALA speaker is consulting with Beatrice Asukul Moe, who is the Chairperson of the East African Community’s Council of Ministers, and Veronica Mueni Nduva, the EAC Secretary General to find ways of appealing to the Partner States on membership contributions.
Apparently, there are some member states that the EALA dispatch did not disclose, who have outstanding contributions and need to remit their dues promptly so as to enable the resumption of parliamentary activities.
While the review of the situation is expected within the next three weeks, the East African Legislative Assembly assures that it remains committed to its mandate of promoting regional integration through Legislation, Oversight, and Representation.
“We are optimistic that the ongoing consultations will yield positive outcomes, allowing the Assembly to resume its critical functions as soon as it is practicable,” reads the official statement from EALA.
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is an organ of the East African Community; established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community with the mission to legislate, do oversight and represent the people of East Africa in a bid to foster economic, social, cultural and political integration.