East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Winnie Odinga has revealed the underlying challenges facing the regional parliament.
Winne, Raila Odinga's lastborn child, was elected in September 2022 to be among the team representing Kenya in the Arusha-based parliament.
Speaking in an interview with a local radio station, she revealed that sessions had not been ongoing in the assembly for close to six months.
She pointed out that funding was the assembly's major challenge, as evidenced by the delays in the remuneration of the members.
Winnie observed that EALA, which was established in 2001, was trailing the changing dynamics of the world's order and emerging trends, suggesting it would soon get moribund if strategies are not put in place to make it consistent with the changing world.
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The assembly is funded by the EAC member states; Winner revealed the countries have for a time not been remitting their dues.
"EALA is one of those institutions that is not flexible and is not really catching up with the times. We are defunct right now because member states have not been paying their dues. So we have been home for quite some time, since November. A month's salary comes after four months. I think it is on its deathbed," she said.
Winnie represents Kenya in EALA alongside Kanini Kegal, Suleiman Shahbal, Maina Karobia, David Ole Sankok, and Hassan Omar.
She said she would not be seeking to defend her seat in 2027.
"I think that there would be somebody better suited than me," she added.
Winnie shared that her focus would be on Kenyan politics, suggesting she would vie for a seat when the time comes.
She was, however, categorical that 2032 was when she planned to actively be involved in politics but did not rule out giving it a shot in 2027.
