Shahbal: East African Legislative Assembly has become extremely dysfunctional

Sulaiman Shahbal, an East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) representative, has criticized the regional parliament for being "extremely dysfunctional" and warned that member states may waste public funds if no changes are made. Shahbal, who had discussed his concerns about the EALA with President William Ruto, pointed out that some rules governing the institution were designed when the region had fewer member states.

When the East African Community originally comprised three countries - Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania - a quorum could be achieved even if one country was absent. However, as the bloc expanded to eight members, Shahbal argued that the quorum requirements remained unchanged. He suggested that a defined number of member states should be sufficient to maintain a quorum, rather than the absence or objection of a single country.

Shahbal also criticized the legislative process, stating that bills passed by the regional parliament can be blocked by the Council of Ministers from the eight member states, even if there is broad consensus among elected legislators. He described EALA as a "talk shop" due to its ineffective legislative framework. Shahbal compared the EAC's decision-making structure to that of the European Union, advocating for mechanisms that enable decisions to be made for the broader interests of the community, even when individual member states have reservations.

He emphasized the need for regional integration to sometimes accept decisions that may not serve the interests of one country but benefit the wider bloc. Additionally, Shahbal raised concerns about financial contributions to the EAC, questioning why Kenyan taxpayers should continue funding officials from countries that have not met their financial obligations.

Despite his criticisms, Shahbal remains a strong supporter of the EAC and believes regional integration is important. He credited the EAC with reducing non-tariff barriers and facilitating movement within the region, but acknowledged that challenges remain. Shahbal urged Kenya, one of the bloc's biggest members, to take the lead in pushing for reforms to the East African Community Charter.