President William Ruto has affirmed Kenya’s commitment in advancing the East African Community (EAC) integration agenda and reiterated the importance of preparing for a political confederation as a transitional step towards the envisaged East Africa Political Federation.
Speaking yesterday during a high level side event to commemorate the EAC 25th anniversary, president Ruto noted that while significant progress had been made, more work is needed to address challenges and foster unity across the region.
President Ruto alongside other Heads of State and Government from EAC member states are Arusha for the 24th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State for two days.
The meeting is centered on the sustainable financing plan of the bloc.
In the meeting, President Ruto will be joined by the host President Samia Suluhu, Kaguta Museveni (Uganda), Felix Tshisekedi (DRC), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Hassan Sheikh (Somalia) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda).
The Summit coincides with the Community’s marking of 25 years of “remarkable progress” since its revival.
The celebration presents an opportunity to the bloc with a market size of more than 170 million people to take stock of its achievements, challenges and the future of the integration.
The president highlighted Kenya’s leadership role in the integration process, citing contributions to institution-building, resource mobilisation, and diplomatic mediation to ensure consensus among Partner States.
He underscored the importance of public consultations, strong institutions, and political will in achieving a stable and cohesive political confederation, with milestones such as economic integration, governance, and security cooperation taking centre stage.
At the broader regional and international stage, president Ruto highlighted Kenya’s peace and security leadership through initiatives like the Tumaini mediation in South Sudan, the Nairobi led Peace Process for DRC, and peacekeeping efforts in Haiti under the UN framework.
These roles, he noted, align with Kenya’s enduring commitment to fostering stability and addressing the root causes of conflict, thereby creating an enabling environment for regional development.
The president concluded by empasising the critical role of peace and security in enhancing trade and economic growth in East African region. He called for deeper collaboration among EAC Partner States to strengthen regional stability, attract investments, and unlock the full potential of the EAC integration agenda for the prosperity of its people.
