to Ekwee Ethuro who was appointed through consensus by Member States’ parliaments as President-elect during the 4th Ordinary Session of the FP-ICGLR held in 2013 in Bujumbura/CFM
Right Honourable Pie Ntavyohanyuma – the outgoing President of FP-ICGLR and President (Speaker) of the National Assembly of Burundi – handed over the mantle to Ekwee Ethuro who was appointed through consensus by Member States’ parliaments as President-elect during the 4th Ordinary Session of the FP-ICGLR held in 2013 in Bujumbura.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate the Right Honourable Ekwee Ethuro, Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Kenya as he takes up the leadership of this forum. I am confident that he will steer us toward our ambitious goals,” Ntavyohanyuma stated.
He also lauded the Government of Kenya and particularly the Senate for hosting the fifth Ordinary Session and the hospitality extended.
During his one year term, Ethuro’s overall duty shall be the management of the Forum and shall be the political and diplomatic representative of the Forum. As President he will also be expected to chair the Plenary Assembly of the FP-ICGLR which is the Supreme Organ of the Forum.
The Plenary Assembly has the authority to deliberate on all matters relating to the powers and duties of the Forum.
“I am greatly humbled by the honour of being elected the President of the PF-ICGLR at this Fifth Ordinary Session of the Plenary Assembly of the Forum of Parliaments of Member States of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (PF-ICGR),” said Ethuro as he delivered his acceptance speech.
“It is such a great honour for me as a person, the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya and indeed our beloved country, Kenya.”While acknowledging that spearheading the forum isn’t a light responsibility, he promised member states to undertake his new responsibilities with the commitment and dedication it deserves.
The responsibility bestowed upon Ethuro comes at a time when the region is faced with a myriad of challenges related to security and youth unemployment.
During the Plenary Assembly, the delegates took time to strongly condemn acts of terrorism in the Great Lakes Region in general and in particular those committed by group Al Shabaab in the Republic of Kenya.
The Assembly was cognizant that the terror group has caused enormous loss of life and property and expressed deep sympathy to the victims and their families, the people and the Kenyan Government.
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