The newly appointed Principal Secretary for East African Community (EAC) Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat has today assumed office from his predecessor Dr. Kevit Desai.
In a ceremony held at the ministry headquarters in Nairobi, Dubat promised to spearhead the ministry agenda to enhance cooperation amongst the EAC member states.
Among the key achievements Desai enumerated as having been achieved under his tenure include the onboarding of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to be part of the EAC aimed at creating free trade area which has seen the EAC membership rise to seven.
“There are numerous key achievements needless to list but mention the fully operationalization of the Customs Union, implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol being in course, establishment of the eight One Stop Boarder Posts with seven being operational, establishment of Common Services among the partner States Comprehensive review of the Common External Tariffs, improved and new shared East Africa resources and institutions among many others not forgetting the free movement across the boarders and the prevailing peace in the region courtesy of the EAC efforts.” Desai said.
On his part, Dubat promised to work closely with all members at the ministry in actualizing set goals and what his predecessor had already started.
“I request that we work together as staff without discrimination,” Dubat said.
Desai added that the key transformations have served as incentives to attract local and foreign investment.
He noted that the Department of Northern Corridor has been moved from the Regional Development to EAC.
The move will act a catalyst to bolster efforts towards coordinating the EAC activities.
Desai urged his successor to consider the key pending roles among them conducting proper induction to the newly elected 9 East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) members team to spearhead country’s agenda at the chambers as they plan to pick from where their colleagues left, safeguard the interests of Kenya in the region and the schedule of activities for EAC.
“Among the pending projects for the State Department are also the operationalization of the eighth One Boarder Stop Point at Suam and putting up of a proposed useful project of Jumuiya 10,000 capacity Open Air Market at Busia,” observed Desai.
He also implored upon him to push for adoption of a readable Identity card on the boarder so as to ensure the free movement across the region.
Dubat said he will onboard the government and stakeholders to counter the growing concerns of Kenya losing in the balance of trade to the partner states especially Tanzania.
