By Eddah Waithaka
In a significant gathering aimed at bolstering regional ties, hundreds of East African citizens from civil society, public, and private sectors have convened in Nairobi for the 7th Annual East African Community (EAC) Secretary General’s Forum. This three-day event serves as a vital platform for stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue, sharing experiences and formulating strategies to enhance economic integration, foster social development, and promote regional peace and security. Key discussions will also focus on advancing the development of the Constitution for the EAC political confederation and proposing amendments to the EAC Treaty, reflecting the needs of an enlarged East African Community.
The event served as a vital platform for fostering collaboration and dialogue among a diverse array of stakeholders committed to the development and integration of the East African Community (EAC). Notable attendees included high-ranking officials from various EAC Partner States, such as Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the 1st Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, who also serves as the Minister for East African Community Affairs, and Hon. Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation for Rwanda. Their participation underscored the significance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges. Additionally, leaders from the private sector, represented by key figures such as Hon. Susan Auma Mang’eni, Principal Secretary for Kenya’s MSME Development, and Mr. Adrian Njau from the East African Business Council, brought valuable insights into the role of business in regional integration.
During the forum, the Chief Guest, Mr. Felix Koskei, who serves as the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service in Kenya, emphasized President William Ruto’s dedication to promoting economic and social integration in the region, especially in his new role as Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads. Mr. Koskei praised the East African Community for its progress in enhancing intra-regional trade, advancing infrastructure projects, and empowering the youth.
“Let’s encourage jointly working together. The joint hosting of AFCON 2027 will foster unity among Partner States, and build on future initiatives such as joint infrastructure projects, peace, security efforts and social integration programs. These milestones remind us of what we can achieve when we work together,” he noted.
He stressed that accountability to the citizens and the effective utilization of resources are essential for achieving regional integration. While acknowledging the EAC’s commendable clean audit record and strong financial management, he urged for increased transparency and greater citizen involvement through different regional platforms. He also pointed out the Community’s efforts to enhance efficiency through institutional reforms and citizen-centered initiatives, such as the East African Passport.
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“Since the 2016 launch of the EAC e-Passport, member states’ nationals have enjoyed free travel across the region without separate visas or travel documents. Visa exemptions for EAC citizens have enhanced mobility, while efforts continue to harmonize immigration and visa policies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia,” he noted.
Mr. Koskei also noted that the EAC Single Tourist Visa, launched in 2014, enables tourists to travel freely across Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, with plans to expand its availability to additional member states in the future. “Harmonized work permits and Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) enable professionals like accountants and engineers to practice across member states,” he said.
For her part, EAC Secretary General Hon. Veronica Nduva underscored the remarkable advancements made by the Community over the past 25 years, especially in the implementation of the Customs Union, Common Market, and Monetary Union protocols. “These frameworks have allowed for the liberalization of intra-regional trade, reduced barriers to business, and enhanced the movement of goods, services, and people,” she noted.
The Secretary General emphasized progress through initiatives like the Electronic Single Window System and East African Electronic Passport. “The reduction of transit times for goods, particularly from Mombasa to Kigali, from 21 days to 3 days today, exemplifies the impact of our integration efforts,” she added.
One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) have significantly improved customs processes, leading to a 70% reduction in border crossing times and resulting in annual savings of over USD 63 million. As a result, transit times from Mombasa to Kampala have been cut down from 18 days in 2007 to just 4-5 days today.
Hon. Nduva noted that the Electronic Single Window (ESW) System has simplified customs and trade documentation, while Regional Trucking Initiatives, including a Centralized Monitoring Centre, have enhanced goods tracking and response to emerging issues. Significant infrastructure upgrades along the Northern Corridor have improved goods flow between Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
“These efforts have yielded impressive results in regional trade. Intra-EAC trade grew from USD 6.2 billion in 2017 to USD 13.8 billion in 2023. The EAC’s merchandise trade with the rest of the world also rose from USD 65.3 billion in 2017 to USD 109.4 billion in 2023,” she added. Trade between the EAC and Africa grew from USD 19.4 billion in 2017 to USD 24.4 billion in 2023, boosted by participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In conclusion, the forum serves as a vital platform for sharing best practices and insights gained from 25 years of regional integration, featuring presentations, recorded stakeholder testimonies, and exhibitions. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the meeting aims to produce clear, actionable recommendations for the Secretary General to present to the EAC Council of Ministers, ensuring that the lessons
