Assembly must sit

THE East African Legislative Assembly, which has been dormant for months, finally resumes business this week. Kenya has been the stumbling block – it took a long time to elect its representatives to the council, doing so only last week.

This was itself dramatic as it was characterised by disputes between the ruling Jubilee coalition and the opposition over the sharing of the slots and the actual names. And with the long electioneering period, the matter was put on hold altogether.

The assembly’s role is to enact laws that guide the East African Community, debate and approve its budget and oversee its operations. Arguably, the new team has its job cut out for it.

It must re-energise the community, which in recent years has been inactive.

Though the member states passed the common market protocol in 2010 that allows free movement of people and goods, the treaty has not been actualised, as some countries continue to enforce punitive rules that undermine regional co-operation.

It is notable, though, that President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that Kenya will implement the protocol to the letter, opening the doors to citizens from the community to visit, trade, study, work and even live in the country. East Africa has had many challenges over regional integration in the past, but now has a chance to make it work.

The newly elected members must play their rightful role in deepening the integration. They must provide effective leadership and give the assembly and the EAC secretariat more visibility.

Regional integration is a desirable ideal and it is the assembly that must push for its implementation.