Operations at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have been disrupted after MPs and staff went unpaid for the past three months due to delayed remittances from member states.
In a memo dated January 27, EAC Secretary-General Veronica Nduva asked the Clerk of EALA to explain why members’ salaries had not been paid since November 2025. The memo follows a complaint from KCB Bank Tanzania, which said it was unable to recover loan installments from MPs for the same period.
The salary freeze has affected lawmakers and staff operating in Arusha, Tanzania, hindering their ability to carry out legislative duties, including discussing and passing bills that impact the East African Community.
MP David Sankok said the situation is a major challenge. “It has been difficult to receive our salaries regularly. We have now stayed for some time without pay, and it affects our work,” he said.
Sankok explained that the issue stems from some member states failing to honour their obligations to remit annual contributions. He singled out the Democratic Republic of Congo as a state that has never paid, while South Sudan has made partial payments but still has significant arrears.
“The money from four states is supposed to pay all MPs and staff, even from non-remitting member states. This creates a serious problem,” Sankok said.
To address the recurring delays, Sankok suggested establishing a system where each member state directly pays its representatives. Currently, the 63 EALA MPs earn over Ksh. 1 million monthly in salaries and allowances.
He warned that the continued delay not only disrupts salaries but also slows legislative processes and affects the Assembly’s overall performance. The financial strain has also caused concern among banks and other financial institutions dealing with EALA MPs.
Sankok called for sanctions against non-remitting countries and urged reforms to ensure that member states fulfil their financial obligations to maintain smooth operations at the regional assembly.
 have been disrupted after MPs and staff went unpaid for the past three months due to delayed remittances from member states.){kind=link}