President Ruto: It’s time to review the East African Community treaty

Ruto, who made the remarks during a meeting with the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Joseph Nkakirutimana, at State House Nairobi yesterday, commended the progress of the EAC which was established 25 years ago.

He said it is time to review the treaty to accommodate the modern changes.

“The East African Community has since grown from three-member states that included Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to now seven-member states additional members being Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said, adding that Somalia is also likely to join the block anytime soon.

Ruto pointed out that the bloc must now build enough capacity required by a huge regional bloc and that the many developments that have taken place should be captured in the founding law.

“It is time to look at the treaty, especially over languages used at EALA. Of course, Kiswahili will continue playing a very big role in the assembly,” the President said.

He also said work has begun on the need to give EALA financial autonomy like regional parliaments.

The meeting was also attended by the EAC Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Miano. Others included: Kenya EALA Members of Parliament Hassan Omar, Kanini Kega, Zipporah Kering, and EALA Deputy Clerk John Mutega.

The East African Community is a regional block that now comprises of seven-member states which include Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Burundi