Ruto Reaffirms Commitment to Stronger East African Integration

By Monyonge Kebati

President William Ruto on Monday held talks with East African Community (EAC) Secretary-General Stephen Mbundi at State House, Nairobi, where they reviewed the progress of regional integration and discussed strategies to boost trade and economic growth across the bloc.

The meeting focused on key achievements made by the EAC, including enhanced integration among Partner States, increased regional trade, and the free movement of people.

President Ruto said the EAC remains Africa’s most progressive regional economic bloc but noted that intra-regional trade, currently estimated at about 20 per cent, has significant room for growth.

He expressed optimism that with the right strategic interventions, trade within the region could increase to as much as 50 per cent, unlocking new economic opportunities for businesses and citizens across East Africa.

The President and the EAC Secretary-General also reaffirmed the Community’s role in driving regional development through the harmonisation of tariffs and the removal of trade barriers. They noted that such measures would strengthen commerce, create employment opportunities, and accelerate shared prosperity among EAC member states.

The discussions underscored Kenya’s continued commitment to advancing regional integration as a key pillar of economic transformation and sustainable development in East Africa.