EALA members call for enactment of anti- Xenophobia law
Members of the Region’s Parliament – the East African Legislative Assembly-EALA says that there is need for enactment of ant- xenophobia law to avoid the vice’s related violence getting the region  unprepared.
The legislators say that as state members move on to implement and strengthen most of the protocols including free movement of labour; there is need to also look at challenges that would affect the integration.
Nancy Abisai, a delegate from Kenya says that there is need for partner states to step up efforts to sensitize people on the advantages of integration  mainly of the freedoms provided  for in the protocols.
“Xenophobia should be discouraged, maybe we should come out with a law on this,â€Â  she said adding Kenya has moved in to respect and welcome citizens from member states something that should be promoted more.
The issue comes at the time when the region is looking at ways of promoting domestic investment, which implies that citizens within the region will be able to move across the borders and invest and stay in that particular state.
“In terms of business, if people are worried of this Xenophobic attacks, then we may not be talking about investments, we don’t want to be caught up unaware,†she said
But the region, experts say does not show any indicators of such violence due to the enabling leadership will and the people-people centred implementation of the  integration process.
Abisai adds that the law should strictly emphasize that whoever will be advocating for Xenophobia shall be  identified and  dealt with according to the law.
Moreover, Dr Kessy Nderakindo, a member from Tanzania noted that there is need for more policies mainly encouraging cross border investments as well as fully implementing the existing protocols to provide opportunities to the citizens of the region.