The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives through its legislative, representative, and oversight mandate.
It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC). The Assembly has a membership comprising 45 elected Members (nine from each Partner State) and seven ex-officio Members consisting of the Minister or Cabinet Secretary responsible for EAC Affairs from each Partner State, the Secretary-General, and the Counsel to the Community totaling 52 Members.
The Assembly draws the authority to establish its Standing Committees from its Rules of Procedure. It currently has 6 Standing Committees to execute its mandate that is; the Accounts Committee; the Committee on Legal, Rules, and Privileges; the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources; the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution; the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment, and the Committee on General Purpose.
The EALA Commission, which oversees the management of the Assembly, is established following the enactment of the Administration of the EALA Act 2012.
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On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, the Kenya Kwanza Coalition announced Hassan Omar, former Mombasa senator and a nominated member of parliament David Sankok, as candidates for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The two were among the 15 candidates that the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, and his counterpart in the Senate, Aaron Cheruyoit, submitted to the joint parliamentary committee.
The fifteen will go through a vetting procedure to determine which five spots will go to the Kenya Kwanza Coalition. On the other hand, ODM has submitted the names of six candidates, including Winnie Odinga and well-known businessman Suleiman Shahbal, for the EALA positions.
It was anticipated that Wiper and the Jubilee Party would each send one representative to the EALA. The outcome of the hotly contested race is anticipated to be determined by the election of EALA members. Political parties are being pitted against one another as a result of interest expressed by several prominent figures in the political race.
Worth noting, former Baringo senator Gideon Moi announced his withdrawal from the race for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). Gideon Moi, who ran unsuccessfully for the Baringo Senatorial seat, dropped out to allow Azimio la Umoja to propose other legislators.
Party Secretary of Political Affairs Fred Okango made the withdrawal of the KANU chairman public. Other candidates mentioned for consideration include Salim Busidy, Yasser Bajaber, Lilian Tomitom, Cyprian Iringo, Jonas Kuko, Abdikadir Aden, and Falhadha Iman.
Additionally proposed for the EALA roles were Fredrick Charles, Joel Nyambane, Godfrey Karobia, Zipporah Kering, and Rebecca Lowoiya.
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