The Private Sector Federation of Rwanda has expressed confidence in the new secretary-general of the East African Community (EAC) hailing his record as a champion of free trade and conducive business environment across the 6-member bloc. The business leaders released a statement reiterating their faith in Peter Mathuki, the respected Kenyan integration crusader who previously served as executive director of the East African Business Council (EABC). The statement followed the new EAC boss’s official visit to Rwanda, the first since he assumed office at the Arusha-based EAC secretariat last month. Prior to moving to EABC, Mathuki had also served as a member of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), an experience which should come in handy as he seeks to help make the integration agenda reality. Now, there has been no honeymoon for Mathuki. He’s already taking a keen look at issues that have long dogged the EAC integration agenda, from a long list of unfulfilled promises to lingering disputes, both at bilateral and Community level. From unharmonized tax regimes and a stalemate on a litany of non-tariff barriers to continued restrictions of movement of people, goods and services across borders and failure to make progress on a liberalised EAC airspace, the new administration at the EAC secretariat has its work cut out for it. Yet, given his previous work and track-record, both as a business and political leader at the regional economic community level, if there was anyone suited for the job in the present circumstances it’s the former trade unionist. During his time at the helm of EABC, the apex body of the regional private sector, was proactive in urging the bloc and partner states to honour their commitments, appeals that often went unheeded. It is an open secret that that most of the challenges have largely stemmed from a lack of political will on the part of some member states to honour their EAC obligations as well as toxic political squabbles among partner states. Despite touting the EAC as a people-centred, private sector-led economic community, the political leaders continue to dominate the bloc, some even almost holding it to ransom. Indeed, there is need to increasingly put the citizens and business at the heart of the EAC agenda and gradually loosen the grip of the political leaders. However, this cannot be achieved overnight. It is a process, nonetheless one that must be embarked on now – and pursued consistently – to help secure the future of EAC. Yet, to achieve this, it will take more than the commitment of Arusha. It calls for concerted efforts from everyone, from citizens to business leaders to civil society in each partner state. These are the primary stakeholders that need to continuously pressure their respective governments to honour their obligations and cease all forms of violations and actions that threaten the unity and integration aspirations of East Africans. While it is true that the secretariat has a critical role to play in the integration effort, there is a need for an all-hands-on-deck approach if the promise of the EAC agenda is to become reality.
