Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have arrived in Kenya for the signing of the East African Community (EAC) treaty of Accession.
The two leaders were received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo.
“President Museveni arrives in Kenya to witness the signing ceremony of the treaty of Accession by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the East Africa Community (EAC),” Foreign Affairs Ministry stated.
Museveni is expected to witness the agreement where other Heads of State from the seven EAC member states are expected to be in attendance.
The president of DRC Felix Tshisekedi arrived yesterday evening for the ceremony.
Tshisekedi was accompanied by the First Lady of DRC Denise Nyakéru Tshisekedi.
This comes after the recent joining of the DR Congo to the EAC as the seventh State.
Other members include; Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Welcoming the newcomer to the EAC, President Uhuru Kenyatta termed the admission of DRC into the EAC a historic event that demonstrates the agility of the community to expand beyond its socio-cultural boundaries to new people and trade-centred partnerships and collaboration that will expand opportunities for citizens of the region.
“Today as chairman of the EAC, I proudly and warmly welcome our brothers and sisters from the DRC to the EAC and look forward to joining hands in strengthening our community together.
Working together, we have more to gain than when we are separate.
“Indeed, the combined population and GDP of our community will grow by 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively, implying a corresponding expansion of the market for goods and services.
These numbers imply expanded market opportunities for producers located within EAC under the Customs Union,” Kenyatta said.
The President added that the expanded community will attract more investments across all sectors, a move that will create more wealth and employment for the people.
He pointed out that with the inclusion of DRC, the EAC will be in a better position to combine resources to develop the much-needed infrastructure, especially the main transit corridors running from east to west.
“The said infrastructure is crucial in facilitating cross-border movements of goods, people and physical capital as envisaged in the EAC Common Market,” the President said.