National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has urged East African Community (EAC) Partner States to honour their financial obligations, warning that regional integration could be weakened if member states fail to meet their commitments.
Wetang’ula said reforms to the Community’s institutions would not solve its financial challenges unless all member states took responsibility for funding regional programmes and institutions.
Speaking on Thursday, October 29, 2026, during an extraordinary meeting of the Bureau of EAC Speakers and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, the Speaker called for decisions that strengthen regional cooperation while respecting the law.
“Even if we amend the Treaty, would the Partner States defaulting in their remittances start to honour their obligations to the Community?” he posed.
He maintained that Kenya remained committed to meeting its financial obligations to the EAC and urged other Partner States to follow suit to ensure the effective running of regional institutions.
Wetang’ula cautioned the regional leaders against pursuing reforms that could undermine the EAC Treaty, weaken its institutions or derail the integration agenda.
“I wish to urge you, let every decision we take today be a decision that will lead to nurturing, preserving, deepening and widening our EAC integration agenda,” he said.
The Speaker also confirmed that Kenya had fulfilled its financial commitment towards the 16th Inter-Parliamentary Games, scheduled to take place in Arusha, Tanzania, from December 4 to 15, 2026. The commitment followed resolutions made during the Bureau’s previous meeting on October 2, 2026.
He called on other participating states to honour their pledges in good time, noting that timely contributions were necessary for the successful organisation of regional activities.
The meeting also examined two decisions adopted by the EAC Heads of State Summit on March 7, 2026, concerning the remuneration of EALA members and the process of selecting their successors.
Under the proposed changes, national assemblies would take over the payment of EALA members’ salaries from December 2027, while Partner States would cover their travel and daily subsistence costs. The EAC would continue paying sitting allowances.
However, Wetang’ula raised concerns about the legal, financial and administrative implications of the proposed arrangement, saying the changes required careful consideration before implementation.
He noted that the EAC Treaty provides for the Summit to determine the terms and conditions of service for EALA members upon the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.
“Like many other Partner States, the Republic of Kenya believes in the rule of law. Not just a belief, but we live the law,” he said.
Wetang’ula warned that transferring responsibility for determining the terms of service to individual member states could create differences in remuneration and treatment, potentially affecting the independence of the regional Assembly.
He also cited concerns relating to taxation, constitutional requirements and a proposal to place EALA members under Kenya’s Parliamentary Service Commission. According to the Speaker, implementing the changes could require amendments to the EAC Treaty, the Constitution and other relevant national laws.
On the selection of EALA members, Wetang’ula referred to Article 50 of the Treaty, which governs their election and bars serving national legislators from simultaneously holding seats in the regional Assembly.
He urged the Bureau to recommend that the two decisions be returned to the Heads of State Summit for further consideration, warning that amending the Treaty and securing ratification by all Partner States would be a lengthy process.
The Speaker added that Kenya was consulting the Executive, including the Attorney-General’s office, the ministry responsible for EAC affairs and the National Treasury, to establish a common position on the proposed reforms.
He called on regional parliamentary leaders to reach a practical agreement that safeguards the Community’s stability, promotes accountability and strengthens cooperation among member states.
