By Nicodemus Ikonko
Kenya’s Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Mr Felix Koskei, has said there is urgent need for training, especially for staff from newer member states, on the key aspects of the East African Community (EAC)’s governance architecture and the region’s integration culture and spirit.
Kenya’s Chief of Staff and Head of Public service, Mr Felix Koskei
Speaking at the end of a two-day EAC Strategic Dialogue for Heads of Public Service, Ministers and other stakeholders in Arusha recently, Mr Koskei said it was easiest to work with colleagues who understood clearly the rules, procedures and the shared aspirations of the community.
“We need to pay urgent attention to the training of public servants who understand the rules, procedures, aims and the spirit of the community so that we can lead the people to the unity, security, prosperity and the freedom they deserve,” said Mr Koskei.
His views were shared by Uganda’s Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Ms Lucy Mbonye, who said integration was challenging and needed clear strategies to build institutional capacities to ensure accountability.
“Integration is challenging… (but we need) clear strategies, commitments and actionable steps to help us strengthen coordination and accelerate policy alignment; build institutional capacities and ensure accountability,” she said in concluding remarks.
EAC Secretary General (SG), Ms Veronica Nduva, emphasised that without integration, EAC risks facing competing national interests that undermine the integration process, including lack of a unified regional approach.
The first EAC was formed in 1967 by the original member states of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, scaling up on regional institutions inherited from colonialism. However, it broke up 10 years later mainly due to political disagreements, ideological differences and economic disparities.
It was revived in 2000 following an ambitious treaty signed on November 30, 1999 that “ultimately” aimed for a political federation. The community has since burgeoned to eight member states, almost all reeling from civil strife and internal wars as well as accusations of one member state rising to invade another member country.
The new members Mr Koskei apparently referred to include Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
