President William Ruto is set to travel to Arusha, Tanzania today (Friday, November 29) to attend the 24th Ordinary Summit of the East African Heads of State.
The summit will bring together regional leaders to address key challenges facing the East African Community (EAC) and discuss strategies to accelerate economic integration, strengthen the region’s resilience to climate change, and address insecurity.
In a press release disseminated by the State House spokesperson, the president is set to champion boosting trade, security and innovation at the EAC summit.
“President Ruto will advocate for the removal of trade barriers, the boosting of cross-border commerce, and the enhancement of partnerships in energy, agriculture, and digital innovation to create jobs and improve livelihoods,” the statement read in part.
“Leaders will also discuss measures to promote peace and security, including combating transnational crime, managing borders, and resolving conflicts,” it further added.
According to an EAC report on Trade and Investment, the region’s trade activity grew by 5.1 per cent in 2023 with a focus on sustainable practices particularly in the agriculture and service sectors. Notably, the region’s economic growth did not carry with it much-needed structural adjustments critical for resilient growth and development.
Further, intra-EAC total trade similarly grew by 13.1 per cent to USD 12.1 billion(Ksh1.569 billion at current exchange rates) in 2023, with the percentage share of intra-EAC trade to EAC total trade increasing to 15 per cent. Overall, intra-EAC trade grew from USD 65B (Ksh8.43 billion) to USD 109B (Ksh14.1 trillion) in 2023.
In regards to security, key initiatives such as the South Sudanese Tumaini Initiative and the EAC-led Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace and security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, will feature prominently in the discussions.
The Tumaini Initiative, which was launched on May 9, 2024, mainly entails talks between the South Sudanese coalition government under President Kiir and groups of South Sudan's Opposition movements.
President Ruto has been at the heart of the peace talks, meeting with the High-Level Standing Committee for South Sudan on Monday, October 28. In the past, Ruto has reiterated regional leadership's commitment to curbing forces that posed a threat to the peace of Kenya's key allies.
At the summit, Ruto will also participate in an interactive session celebrating the EAC’s 25th anniversary and its milestones in the journey towards political federation.
Ruto will also hold bilateral talks with regional leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
