Parliamentary Select Committee report on Tuesday, January 3, recommended the removal of the political parties' role in the election of Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The twelve member committee proposed an amendment to the EAC Act that allows political parties to submit lists of their preferred candidates to be elected to the regional assembly.
Instead, the report by Parliamentary Select Committee wants both the Senate and National Assembly to give it the powers to initiate and lead the process of electing EALA lawmakers.
“The Election of Members of the Assembly, 2017, should be amended to enhance the role of the joint select committee, commencing with the invitation of applications to the submission of names to the East African Legislative Assembly,” reads the report.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula in October 2022, announced the formation of the Parliamentary Select Committee that was charged with the responsibility of overseeing the election of Kenya’s representatives to the Arusha-based assembly.
Wetang'ula noted that the team would propose appropriate timelines for purposes of notifications, nominations and election of EALA MPs.
According to Wetangula, the committee would also consider nominees, oversee the election and report to both Houses of Parliament within stipulated timelines.
In its post-election evaluations, the committee asked MPs to amend the EALA rules and procedures to give it enhanced roles in the election of EAC legislators.
“Rule 14 on the campaigns be amended to include a framework that ensures all nominees, whether they are former Members of Parliament or not, have an equal opportunity to campaign,” it recommends.
The Parliamentary Select Committee is asking MPs to allow it to invite applications from Kenyans who will have the desire to represent the country at the Arusha-based Parliament.
The committee also wants its role to include vetting of applicants and preparation of the final list that will be voted upon by the two houses.
The report recommended that rules and laws should be changed to allow the President to commission winners before they could leave for Arusha.
"Article 50 of the EALA treaty requires that representatives to the assembly are a face of various political parties represented in Parliament, various shades of opinion, gender and other special interest groups in the partner states," read part of the report.
In November 2022, Kenya Kwanza coalition, led by President William Ruto, bagged five slots, while Azimio la Umoja coalition party got four.
The National Assembly and the Senate voted to send Kennedy Kalonzo, Winnie Odinga, Hassan Omar, David Sankok, Zipporah Kering and Falhadha Dekow. Kanini Kega, Suleiman Shahbal and Godfrey Mwangi Maina to EALA.
