Nunu Kumba elected chairperson of East African parliaments speakers’ forum

JUBA – The speaker of South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislature, Jemma Nunu Kumba, was elected on Friday as the chairperson of the East African Community Parliamentary Bureau of Speakers forum, defeating two other contenders.

Speaking following the announcement of the results, Kumba welcomed her election.

“I am happy for the great practice of democracy championed by East Africa Legislative Assembly for the rotational chairmanship of the Bureau of Speakers, which is now led by Kenya, and we understand that we shall be taking over the next chairmanship for which is so much honored by as a country,” she said.

“I take this opportunity given to all member countries to elect their members to the EALA, and I would like to reiterate that South Sudan tested the best of democracy when we conducted the election of members to the EALA in a democratic, transparent, and peaceful manner,” she added.

CEPO WELCOMES NEWS

In a statement, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed the election of Kumba and stressed that the South Sudanese politician now made history as the first East African woman to be elected to the position.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes and congratulates Rt. Hon. Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba for the post of the Chairperson of the Bureau of EAC Speakers. This is a great recognition of South Sudan women in public governance,” CEPO said in the statement.

Edmund Yakani. CEPO’s executive director, said Nunu’s election for the next one year is a “more motivation for championing for meaningful women political participation in the region and in the each member state of EAC. Being first female speaker of South Sudan parliament and gained trust of the region to be entrusted the role of leading the Bureau of EAC Speakers was good gain.”

“It time for South Sudan to demonstrate to the region is it is able and capable of leading regional mechanism for realization of democratic transformation in the regional legislative assemblies governance for the best interest of the citizens of the regional (EAC). It is a good opportunity for us as civil society to utilize this chance in shaping civil society engagement with legislative assemblies of our region (EAC),” Yakani stressed.

“CEPO is urging Rt. Hon Speaker to use her term of office as chairperson of the Bureau of EAC Speakers for championing peace and security in the region especially in DRC following the recently violence between the government and rebel of M 23.

“Finally CEPO will be engaging Rt. Hon. Speaker term of office as Bureau of EAC Speakers for strengthening civil society interaction with legislative assemblies of member states of the region (EAC).”