EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

The east African community is more than a decade old since its revival, with some major milestones having been achieved in the common markets protocol, a customs union and integration in areas such as security, education, health and so many other sectors being worked on. I once wrote to the permanent secretary for the ministry of East Africa community (MEAC). The following are the questions and the feedback that I received.  EAC is a powerful power bloc in the making and you don’t want to miss its struggles, aspirations and in making achieve the ultimate political federation that it seeks in the long run. Follow up on its progress.

Response to Email by Abraham Dalle

1.       How is the MEAC prepared to meet the very many different and at times divergent stakeholder and MEAC expectation?

The EAC integration process is indeed a very complicated process that covers a broad and wide range of issues that affects every single person in Kenya and in East Africa. At the government level, we are aware of this and it is for this reason that whenever we are engaging at the regional ( EAC ) level, we as MEAC begin our preparations by convening multi-stakeholder meetings to gather views and advice from those who are closer to these issues. In doing so, we ensure Kenya as a country in the EAC is presenting the views of the Kenyan. To this end MEAC welcomes comments and information from across the board on how the EAC integration process is working for them.

2.       Partner states as the key stakeholders will hold some personal country positions based on their personal interests, this is an obstacle to the process of the full EAC integration and might derail the process. How is your ministry prepared to address this issue?

As I have mentioned above, MEAC has preparatory meetings before any regional meetings in order to have a consistent and single voice. While we are aware that there exist personal/country interests at these meetings, we have to be willing to negotiate and ensure the best outcome for one the EAC, and second the EAC citizens which include all Kenyans. Difference of opinion will always exist but as long as we are committed to the greater good of east Africa, these differences can be overcome. To large extent there is evidence of this one only has to look at the progress made today compared to the previous EAC. We are on the verge of establishing a common market; we are looking at introducing a single currency for the region.

In response to your statement on the disregard of EAC in Kenya’s vision 2030. While there is no explicit inclusion of the EAC integration process in the KV 2030, there are implicitly linkages between the KV 2030 and the path towards which the EAC integration process is moving. The foundations of a strong and sustainable environment for economic development and growth are fundamental to both the successes of KV 2030 and the EAC integration process. Notwithstanding the omission in KV 2030, the EAC integration process is very much part of government business. You will note the numerous mentions of EAC integration process and its importance in speeches and statements delivered by both H.E the president and the prime minister.

3.       How viable is the EAC political federation timed for 2013 given that Tanzania is pursuing the political ideology of African socialism while other member states are generally capitalists?

 The east African political federation is the ultimate goal of the EAC integration process. It has been agreed the political federation will be established as enshrined in the EAC treaty that was signed by all five heads of state of the EAC. It is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the EAC integration process and without a doubt the most ambitious of any regional economic bloc. To date no regional bloc has managed to establish any form of a political union, the European Union included. The EAC political federation while ambitious is not beyond the EAC if you look at the historical context of especially Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Rwanda and Burundi are slightly different for obvious reasons. Taking the three founding states of the EAC, you will note that prior to the period of colonial rule, the three countries shared a rich heritage of trade, social, political and economic integration albeit in a less formal arrangement. A typical example is how the several ethnic groups can be found on either side of the country border, for example, the Maasai, the Luo among many more. So, while an ambitious task, the political federation is not beyond the EAC.

4.       The resolution reached at the 1^st tripartite summit held in Kampala in 2008 for the merger of COMESA-EAC-SADC is a bit farfetched given the current shaky state of the EAC. What has prompted this move?

To begin with, the idea of merging these three regional blocs is not at all farfetched. At the moment there is a real strong belief that Africa’s development and growth is within itself. Africa has natural resources in abundance, and if you look closely enough at how the industrialized nations of our world run, you will see that they source majority of their raw materials from Africa. We as Africans are realizing of this potential and want to exploit what we have to our benefit. The merging of these three blocs will hopefully create a bloc that is globally competitive and open up the region to foreign trade and investment. Furthermore, the merger will assist in connecting sub Saharan Africa in a way that to date has not been possible; through improved transport and communication infrastructure.

5.       What plans does MEAC have for the youth in the EAC integration process and what efforts has MEAC undertaken to incorporate youth issue in the EAC programmes?

A number of professional, civil society, local government associations and youth organizations have formed alliances across borders and meet regularly. The treaty establishing the EAC recognizes the critical role of integrating the key stakeholders such as the civil society, women, youth and the private sector in the development agenda of the community with the intension of empowering effective participation of the citizenry in matters of economic development and creating a conducive environment for effective participation.

In this connection, the youth, who constitute the largest segment of the population in the EAC, should be accorded proportionate recognition and participation in all national and regional development activities. EAC’S youth is EAC’s future. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also the future entrepreneurs, innovators, the scientists and technologists, the investors and managers as well as the captains of industry interests. In September 2008, the EAC forum for ministers responsible for social development, the ministers responsible for social development recommended to mainstream youth as well as gender issues, in all development policies and programs. The ministers further recommended to EAC council of ministers to establish a youth and children position under existing EAC administrative structure within FY 2009/2010. In the intervening time, the EAC gender and community development department has already requested a budget for an annual youth exchange programme for sharing new opportunities and best practices in business and technology.

In order to have clear strategies in the sector, a strategic plan which takes into account youth issues is being developed. Three objectives have been identified:

                                           I.             To formulate a harmonized comprehensive regional policy that provides a binding framework for effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of youth programmes and projects;

                              II.            To empower the youth so that they can fully participate and benefit from the regional economic, social and political integration and,

                                              III.            To establish a regional mechanism that will promote and sustain youth culture, values, morals and ethics.

6.       A little on the “principle of sublimity” stipulated in the EAC treaty?

the principle of sublimity , namely that every regional policy, law, regulation, practice etc shall be at least as good as the best of the national policies etc, and further that such a regional policy, law or regulation shall supersede any national policy, law or regulation will assume high priority amongst existing EAC operational principles. The principle of sublimity will enable harmonization of national policies/strategies/plans, laws and standards with regional counterparts.

This principle forms the underpinning for the successful implementation of the EAC’s development strategy 2006-2010. The principle of sublimity has been endorsed but it has not been fully operationalized in terms of shared regional values, policies, strategies, laws, regulations and practices.

MEAC VISION: Deepen and widen east African integration for sustainable development and improved livelihoods of all Kenyans.