Beny Gideon, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of East Africa Community Affairs. (-)

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of East Africa Community Affairs has turned down a proposal by Kenyan lawmakers to let the regional bloc founders contribute and clear South Sudan membership arrears.

In a report, the Kenyan Parliamentary Committee on Regional Intergration proposed that South Sudan and Burundi be bailed out of millions of dollars in membership debts on what they termed as “big brother basis”.

They also called for the amendment of EAC Treaty to give veto power to the largest contributing states.

Reacting to the development, Beny Gideon said the MPs’ suggestions are political statements and it’s their liberty to speak on the matter.

“The Kenyan Members of Parliament are politicians, and they have the liberty to have their political opinions on any matter of concern, however, on this particular issue of the proposal to bail out South Sudan and Burundi of the annual contribution fee, it’s not possible,’ he told Eye Radio.

Mr. Gideon added that South Sudan is capable of paying its annual membership contribution, claiming that it has not fallen short on the debts.

According to him, the South Sudan government is in the process of transferring its membership contribution to the East African Community treasury.

“They have raised two issues in their discussion. These are two political statements, and they are entitled to their political opinions, but the practicality of the matter is opposite.”

“South Sudan did not fall short to pay its annual contribution. As we speak, we are in the process of transferring our annual contribution to the community”.

Undersecretary Gideon said the regional block owes South Sudan 7 million US dollars for last year alone.

In 2022, South Sudan was said to have owed the regional bloc close to 40 million US dollars in accumulated annual membership fees that had not been paid.

A South Sudanese lawmaker at the East African Legislative Assembly later said they are ashamed of participating in sittings when the government is unable to pay the membership fee to the EAC.

Dr. Ann Itto said the non-payment of the country’s membership fee has weakened their participation in the regional parliament.