EAC states start dialogue to popularize political integration process

The five East African Community (EAC) member states, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania, on Thursday started their first dialogue on the political integration of the region in a bid to popularize the process. Beatrice Kiraso, the EAC deputy Secretary General, while opening the two-day meeting here said that the dialogue aims at bringing together stakeholders to debate on fundamental issues of political integration. "East Africans have a right to be part of this integration, both the process and the outcomes. The policy makers have an obligation to involve and represent the people of East Africa so that the decisions that are taken at regional level represent their interest and aspirations," she said. The dialogue's theme is: "Enhancing Representation/ Inclusiveness in Promoting EAC Integration" and key topics to be discussed include the impact of national politics on the EAC integration process. Kiraso said the dialogue will be a regular activity in all partner states and topics will be based on studies commissioned to research on various topical political integration issues. Mukhisa Kituyi, Executive Director of Kenya Institute of Governance, said that the EAC political integration process needs to be reviewed because the current process is based on economic integration. He said that political federation should come first because it can guarantee the economic federation. An EAC Secretariat statement issued last week said that the EAC heads of state will at the forthcoming EAC summit scheduled for Nov. 30 give guidance on the roadmap towards political federation. The meeting is attended by representatives of private sector, academia, youth, media, integration experts, religious organizations and politicians.