Kenya President H.E. William Ruto has taken over the Chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) from the President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir.
This was during the 24th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Arusha, Tanzania on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
The Summit decided that the Federal Republic of Somalia would serve as the Rapporteur of the EAC for the next year.
In his speech, Ruto lauded his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni for his pivotal role in promoting East African unity and integration, reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to advancing the East African Community agenda.
“Mzee, we congratulate you. Having you in our midst reminds us of why this journey is important. You continue to guide us in building a stronger East African Community,” he stated.
President Ruto emphasised the shared belief among East Africans that the EAC project is on the right path, highlighting the collective efforts of member states to deepen socio-economic, cultural, and political integration.
“The EAC treaty is bringing us closer together. It strengthens our shared values and fosters collaboration among member states,” he said.
Reflecting on milestones achieved, President Ruto noted the overwhelming support for the EAC’s political federation since its inception.
“In 2007, it was clear that East Africans overwhelmingly supported the EAC. By 2017, professionals began shaping the journey towards a customs union, a common market, a monetary union, and ultimately a political confederation,” he explained.
He also commended Uganda, Kenya and Burundi for their significant strides in consolidating the federation and applauded Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan for setting clear timelines for political integration.
President Ruto further highlighted the EAC’s status as Africa’s most advanced economic bloc.
“Today, intra-regional trade within the EAC stands at 25-28%, the highest in Africa,” he noted.
He praised the region’s functioning institutions, including the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the East African Court of Justice, as cornerstones of its success.
President Ruto underscored the economic benefits of integration, emphasizing the need for a barrier-free market.
“We must provide a large enough market for our producers, manufacturers, and businesspeople to trade and invest. A market without barriers is crucial for our prosperity,” he asserted.
The Kenyan President also stressed the link between regional security and economic growth.
“It’s impossible to attract investors or do business without peace, security, and stability. That’s why we must collectively invest in the safety of our region,” he said.
President Ruto further highlighted Kenya’s contributions to peacebuilding efforts, citing collaborations with South Sudan and welcoming the Democratic Republic of Congo’s proposal to unify the Rwanda and Nairobi peace processes.
“Kenya is fully committed to supporting peace, security, and stability in the region, sparing no effort in this endeavour,” he remarked.
President Ruto drew inspiration from the vision of the region’s founding fathers, including Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, and Milton Obote.
“Though the initial East African Federation didn’t progress as envisioned, we must commend Zanzibar and Tanganyika for uniting to form the United Republic of Tanzania. This demonstrates the power of bold steps towards unity,” he reflected.
The summit was also attended by key officials from the EAC Secretariat, including the Secretary-General and other senior staff who facilitate the community’s day-to-day operations and implementation of policies, High-level representatives from other African regional blocs, such as COMESA and IGAD, international development partners, among others.