KENYA, TANZANIA, UGANDA MEETING ON TOURISM AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ISSUES CONCLUDES IN ARUSHA

East African Community

East African Community Secretariat Arusha; 21 February 2014: The meeting of the Ministers/Cabinet Secretary responsible for Tourism, Wildlife Management, and EAC Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda to resolve their ongoing differences in tourism and wildlife management under the auspices of the EAC Secretariat concluded 20 February, 2014 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania

The 17 to 20 February 2014 meeting was held to discuss among others, Partner States denying entry of tourist vehicles registered in other Partner States; harassment of driver guides at the border crossings; disparities in fees charged; cross border cooperation in wildlife law enforcement; and cooperation and support in addressing multi-lateral environment agreements.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, who is also a Chairperson of EAC Council of Ministers, Hon. Phyllis Kandie, commended the readiness of the three Partner States to meet and discuss the challenges in the tourism sector. She reiterated the commitment of the Republic of Kenya towards the EAC integration agenda.

Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism of the United Republic of Tanzania commended the Republics of Uganda and Kenya for working with the United Republic of Tanzania to resolve the issues persisting in the tourism and wildlife sectors. He noted that by resolving these challenges, Partner States would improve the standard of living for the people in the Region.

Hon. Nyalandu urged Partner States to set and honour timelines agreed upon during the deliberations and encouraged Partner States to work jointly to implement the decisions.

The Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Egunyu Akiror Agnes expressed gratitude that the meeting was finally considering issues that had been outstanding in the sector since 2010. She reiterated the commitment of the Republic of Uganda in supporting the integration agenda.

On her part, the  Deputy Secretary General in charge Productive and Social Sector, Hon. Jesca Eriyo stated that “as three founding Partner States of the EAC, you share a rich history that should encourage us rather than hinder our progress towards integration’’.  

Some of the recommendations made at the meeting are:

Treatment of Tourist Driver Guides

In regard to the treatment of Tourist Driver Guides at the border crossings, the Ministers urged the Partner States to sensitize law enforcement officials and the public on appropriate conduct when interacting so as to reduce incidences that may frustrate the operations of the tourism sector. They also urged Partner States to build the capacity of tour operators to appreciate the importance of security while operating in the region to reduce misunderstandings between the two sectors. They also urged Partner States to engage the relevant Ministries to work out the modalities to develop frameworks to ensure smooth movement of the citizens of EAC Partner States across borders and within is improved to enhance intra-regional tourism.

Accessibility of Tourist Vehicles to Tourist sites in Partner States and Work Permit Fees for Tour Operators

In regard to this outstanding issues, the Ministers/Cabinet Secretary noted that in the Republic of Kenya,  the use of tourist vehicle sticker were under review due to changes in the Tourism Act. The Ministers/Cabinet Secretary urged Kenya to officially communicate the new changes in the regulations to all Partner States by 20th March, 2014.

And for the work permits, the Ministers/Cabinet Secretary noted that the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) had officially abolished the Carrying on Temporary Assignment Pass (CTA). They urged URT to officially communicate on this matter to Partner States by 20^th March, 2014. Prior to July 2013, every non-citizen (including citizens of other Partner States) entering URT for the purpose of engaging in any lawful and gainful activities were subjected to pay a fee of US$200 for a CTA. The United Republic of Tanzania reported to the  meeting that from July 2013 a directive was circulated to Immigration Officials at all entry points not to charge a fee of US$200 for a CTA to citizens of the other Partner States.

Entry of Kenyan and Ugandan Registered Tourist Vehicles into the United Republic of Tanzania Tourist Sites

The Ministers/Cabinet Secretary reiterated their commitment to promote cooperation in the tourism sector with a focus on regional integration. In this regard, they agreed to engage in bilateral arrangements by reviewing or developing agreements. In this regard, the Ministers urged the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania to continue with the existing bi-lateral agreement on cooperation in tourism and also urged the two Partner States to meet bi-laterally to review the bi-lateral agreement on cooperation in tourism within six months.

They urged the Republic of Uganda to develop bi-lateral agreements for cooperation in tourism with the other Partner States. The Ministers/Cabinet Secretary also urged the Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Burundi to develop bi-lateral agreements for cooperation in tourism with the other Partner States.

The Ministers directed the Secretariat to coordinate the development of Regional Guidelines to manage tour operations in the EAC by July, 2014. The Secretariat was also urged to convene a regional meeting of the five Partner States involving Tour Operators Associations, Tour Guides, Wildlife Agencies, Tourist Boards, Security/Immigration, EATP and other stakeholders to consider the draft Regional Guidelines to manage tour operations by August, 2014.

The Ministers/Cabinet Secretary urged the Partner States to make additional commitments on the elimination of restrictions on the services in the Tourism sector; and as well as to expedite the liberalization of more services in the sector.

 Consideration of the treatment of citizens

 The Ministers/Cabinet Secretary urged Partner States to sensitize the investors of privately owned tourist facilities to apply EAC rates; and also urged Partner States to amend current legislations to ensure that privately owned vehicles belonging to citizens of the EAC Partner States are accorded local treatment while visiting tourist sites.

Cooperation in conservation of Flora and Fauna

 The Ministers/Cabinet Secretary; urged Partner States to jointly consider regional cooperation in conservation of fauna and flora; urged Partner States to expedite the review of existing legislation to ensure that the Region’s endangered wildlife resources are protected by December 2014; and included the cross border efforts in the Regional strategy to fight poaching and the illegal trade of wildlife, wildlife and forest products for consideration by the Sectoral Council Tourism and Wildlife Management.

The Ministers/Cabinet Secretary’s recommendations will be submitted to the EAC Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management for further management.
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REGIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM ON GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE (GMP) CONCLUDES IN NAIROBI

East African Community Secretariat Arusha: 21 February 2014: A ten-day regional training program on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) closed today in Nairobi, Kenya. The training was organized by the EAC Secretariat under the Medicines Regulation Harmonization Program and was facilitated by experts from the region and the World Health Organization.

The programme aimed at imparting knowledge and practical skills to staff of National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) in the Partner States on carrying out inspections for pharmaceutical products.

In her closing remarks, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Jesca Eriyo, urged participants to translate the knowledge gained into practical application. She recommended that the program should create a database of inspectors in the region and create centres of excellence in medicines regulation.

Participants were drawn from the NMRAs of Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya, Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, Zanzibar Food and Drugs Board, Department of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Laboratories of Burundi, Pharmacy Task Force of Rwanda, and National Drug Authority of Uganda.

The training modules covered the areas of risk management; hygiene and health; self-inspection; validation; water purification; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; quality control testing; and techniques for the conduct of regulatory inspections.

Participants had the opportunity to perform practical inspection of five pharmaceutical companies located in Nairobi, namely Elys Chemical Industries Limited, Universal Corporation, Regal Pharmaceuticals, Lab and Allied, and Ivee Infusion Limited.

The training would ensure uniformity of competencies among inspectors and provided an opportunity to pilot the EAC harmonized standards on GMP inspection.

It is expected that the regulators will be able to improve their oversight of the quality of medicines in the region and to contribute to the ultimate goal of increased access to priority medicines through harmonization and streamlining of medicines registration requirements, processes and standards.

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EALA KENYA TOUR OFF TO A BUSY START

…Members Meet Governor Joho, Governor Kingi of Mombasa and Kilifi respectively

East African Legislative Assembly, Feb 21, 2014, Mombasa, Kenya: East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Members commenced the tour of Kenya in the respective counties of Mombasa and Kilifi - urging citizens to fully embrace regional integration. 

In Mombasa, EALA paid a courtesy call on the County Governor, H.E. Hassan Ali Joho where they seized the opportunity to sensitise Executives of the County Government.  Governor Joho announced that Mombasa was set to launch a free port facility in the next four months.

“My County Government is keen on facilitating all prospects for investments and creation of opportunities. We shall ensure that we diversify the port services given its tremendous potential to the EAC”, he remarked.  Today, the port of Rotterdam for example, is fifteen times more efficient than our port. I believe that with some focus, we can replicate the success right at the Mombasa port”, he added.

H.E. Joho urged the Members of the County Assembly to enact legislation in tandem with that of EALA.  The Bills enacted by the EALA supercede the Partner States Bills on matters related to the Treaty.

The Senator of Mombasa, Hon Hassan Omar called for a change of mindset to spur development of the region.  He urged the EALA to use every opportunity to sensitise the masses on the benefits of integration.

EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa said the coastal area was the melting pot of integration and added that developments at the EAC were taking place on a high pitch.

“This is reflected by the encouraging progress and remarkable strides taken with regard to the implementation of the EAC Customs Union, the Common Market Protocol and the recent signing (November 2013) of the Monetary Union Protocol” the EALA Speaker stated.

In attendance were several Executives of the County Government.  In her brief remarks, the Deputy Governor, Hazel Katana termed health, education and environmental matters as some of the sectors that were considered a priority of the County Government.

In Kilifi, the legislators met with the County Governor, H.E. Amason Kingi. The Governor maintained that the EAC was non-reversible and challenged EALA to continue with its legislative and oversight activities.   He noted that East Africans were looking forward to reaping the benefits that integration has to offer.   Governor Kingi, a former Minister for East African Community remarked that his County Government was keen to see the full implementation of the pillars of integration.

The Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa said the Assembly would enhance its outreach activities with different stakeholders in order to popularize integration.  Present at the meeting were the Senator of Kilifi, Hon Stewart Madzayo, Speaker of the County Assembly of Kilifi, Rt. Hon Kadhua Jimmy Kahindi among other top county government officials.

Yesterday, EALA commenced the ten day tour with an extensive tour of the Kenya Ports Authority, holding discussions with the Port’s senior management led by the Managing Director, Gichiri Ndua.

The legislators shall travel to Nairobi where they are expected to engage with a number of stakeholders. They include meetings with the top leadership of the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project, Project, Konza Techno City, Vision 2030 Secretariat as well as the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the East African Business Council (EABC).

EALA also has a date with the University of Nairobi’s School of Health, identified as one of the EAC Centres of Excellence, as well as interactive sessions with Parliamentary and Senate Committees and civil society groupings.

The ten-day tour seeks to enable EALA to appreciate the diversity of the people and the development initiatives that Kenya has to offer to the region.  At the same time, the legislators shall interact directly with citizens and hear their views, aspirations and fears on the integration process.   The EALA Members are also expected to get first-hand experience on the workings of a devolved government following the promulgation of the Constitution in Kenya in 2010.