Somalia’s Federal Parliament Speaker, Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur, visited Nairobi on Tuesday to meet Kenyan National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula amid a legal dispute over Somalia’s nominees to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Nur’s visit aimed to secure Kenya’s diplomatic support to resolve a long-standing deadlock that has seen the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) halt the swearing-in of Somalia’s nine elected representatives.
“Nur requested Kenya’s support in resolving the ongoing stalemate at the East African Court of Justice concerning Somalia’s nominees,” Wetang’ula said.
The EACJ froze the process following a petition by Somali lawmakers challenging the legitimacy of the nomination and election procedures. The petition argued that the selection failed to meet the political diversity, transparency, and legal standards required under the East African Community (EAC) Treaty.
Dissenting MPs raised concerns about the short five-day nomination window, mandatory US$10,000 (Sh1.3 million) candidacy fees, and allegations of nepotism, claiming some nominees were closely associated with senior officials. They argued that the process violated Article 50(1) of the EAC Treaty, which mandates an “indirect election” reflecting diverse political, social, and gender interests.
The impasse has prevented Somalia from taking up its seats in the regional assembly, marking its first-ever participation since joining the EAC. The deadlock has been politically costly for Mogadishu, undermining efforts to integrate fully into regional institutions.
Wetang’ula, a senior EAC parliamentary figure, is viewed as a crucial ally who can help build consensus among regional legislatures and facilitate a resolution. The Nairobi talks reportedly explored ways to respect both the EACJ process and Somalia’s parliamentary mandate while strengthening regional parliamentary cooperation.
Nur, recently elected chairperson of the EAC Bureau of Speakers, also confirmed Somalia’s participation in the upcoming EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games in Kampala from December 5–15.
“I assured him of my unwavering support as he takes on this important regional mandate,” Wetang’ula added.
