Former East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) legislator Abubakar Zein Abubakar has died.
Abubakar, who also served as the Head of the Wiper Party Presidential Secretariat and Campaign, passed away on Thursday, July 9, at Avenue Hospital in Nairobi.
During his decade-long tenure in the East African Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2022, Abubakar participated in regional legislative processes and represented Kenya in the Parliament.
Outside EALA, he was active in national politics through the Wiper Party, where he coordinated the party’s presidential secretariat and campaign activities.
Zein Abubakar Role in EALA and the Wiper Party
Among the proposals Zein Abubakar sponsored and supported were the East African Community Holiday Bill, 2013, the establishment of an East African Parliamentary Centre for Peace and Security, and resolutions urging East African Community partner states to adopt the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
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Zein Abubakar also championed initiatives promoting cultural cooperation and the observance of the International Day of Democracy across the region.
During his time in EALA, Zein also served on several parliamentary committees, including the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution, the General Purpose Committee, and the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment.
After leaving the regional assembly, Zein remained active in Kenyan politics through the Wiper Democratic Movement.
In December 2024, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka appointed him as the Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Campaign, placing him at the centre of the party’s political strategy and campaign coordination.
In the role, Zein Abubakar was a vocal advocate on governance, constitutional affairs and public policy.
Wiper Party Leader Pays Tribute to Zein
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has mourned the death of Zein Abubakar, saying his contribution to Kenya’s governance and democratic development will be remembered for generations.
In a condolence message on July 9, Kalonzo said Zein consistently put the country first and served with dedication and integrity. He praised his role in public service and nation-building.
Kalonzo noted that Zein served as a Commissioner with the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC), contributing to the review process that led to the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution. He also commended his work in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), where he promoted good governance and the fight against corruption across the region.
The former Vice President said he worked closely with Zein during the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) talks in 2023 and later appointed him head of the Wiper Party Presidential Secretariat in December 2024.
Kalonzo said Zein Abubakar was a skilled negotiator, strategist and mentor who remained humble even while serving in senior leadership positions.
“Today, a chapter of quiet, uncelebrated courage has closed, one this nation will only fully understand in his absence. We will miss Zein dearly, and at a most crucial time in our history,” Kalonzo said.
About the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is an arm of the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc comprising Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia.
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Established under the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, which came into force in 2000, EALA is responsible for passing laws that support regional integration among member states.
The Assembly debates and approves Bills that become EAC laws after receiving assent from the Heads of State of the partner countries. T
Apart from making laws, EALA oversees the activities of EAC institutions, reviews reports on regional programmes, approves the Community’s budget, and makes recommendations on matters affecting the bloc.
Members of EALA are not elected directly by citizens. Instead, they are elected by the national parliaments of the respective partner states in line with the EAC Treaty.
Each member state elects nine representatives to the Assembly. EALA also includes ex officio members, such as EAC ministers from partner states, the EAC Secretary-General, and the Counsel to the Community.
Elected members serve a five-year term and can be re-elected, and the Assembly plays a key role in promoting cooperation and advancing the integration agenda within East Africa.
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