East Africa: Region to Unlock Regional Economic Benefits, Constitutional Experts Say


Kisumu — Kenya is bound to realize more economic benefits with deepened regional integration and free trade in East Africa.

Fostering social and political integration within the East African Community (EAC) is set to boost the economic growth with border counties earmarked for major development following the implementation of the proposed confederation model.

Former Attorney General Amos Wako made the remarks during a stakeholders’ consultation on drafting the EAC Political Confederation Constitution held in Kisumu on Thursday.

Wako who is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Constitutional Experts Committee assured that the Confederation would significantly address regional economic imbalances by advancing mutual benefit for member states.

“To progressively transform EAC into a smooth operating common market, a confederation helps to iron out the tariff barriers, different policies between partner states among other challenges,” he said.

The team of regional eminent constitutional experts under the stewardship of retired Ugandan Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, engaged delegates representing the civil societies, opinion leaders, special interest groups and the business community to gather views on the desired framework for establishing the EAC Political Confederation.

Justice Odoki said that the proposed Confederation targets to strengthen the cooperation ties and fast-track the integration process in the East Africa bloc.

Further, he disclosed that under a confederal system, some kind of central authority would be put in place to guide policies and activities in the partner states.