Mama Ngina Kenyatta honoured over formation of regional bloc

Mama Ngina Kenyatta at a past function. PHOTO: FILE

Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta has been recognised for the role she played in the establishment of the first East African Community (EAC).

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) honoured Mama Ngina alongside other East African First Ladies - Miria Obote (Uganda) and Maria Nyerere (Tanzania) for their contribution to the formation of the first regional bloc between 1967 and 1977.

Consequently, Mama Ngina and her two counterparts will address a special sitting of EALA in Arusha today.

The EALA special sitting is held under the umbrella of the 6th meeting of the assembly’s fourth session that began on May 23 and will end on June 3. The meeting held last Thursday witnessed the presentation of the 2016/2017 EAC Budget amounting to Sh10 billion.

The Budget gives priority to the full implementation of the EAC Single Customs Territory and the EAC Common Market Protocol. The East African founding fathers - Mzee Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), Julius Kambarage Nyerere (Tanzania) and Milton Obote (Uganda) - steered the first East African regional bloc from inception in 1967 until its collapse in 1977.

Mama Ngina has received many other awards.