Deputy President William Ruto, on Tuesday, urged Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni to take the lead in the regional integration of East African countries.
Speaking at the 2019 Africa Now Conference in Kampala, Uganda, DP Ruto referred to Museveni as the father of the region which meant the responsibility fell on him to push for a common agenda.
"You are the father figure in our region. We are looking to you for leadership. You are the Mzee and you can not run away from responsibility. I'm telling you this as your son.
"Your have to provide leadership for East Africa to merge forward. We cannot afford to roll back from the gains we have made as East Africans," he urged.
He further explained that economic integration was critical in enabling Africa to take its rightful place in global marketplace.
"Unless we trade as Africa, we are doomed to fail. Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) will create a single market for goods, services and increase intra-Africa trade," he added.
Ruto explained that the block should focus its synergy to harness the energy of Africa's youth.
"We are witnessing new forms of organisation across Africa based on shared values, ideas, strategies that transcend the state and are driven by young people. We have new capacities and competencies to forge a stable, peaceful, prosperous future for our youth.
He further stated that Kenya had allowed East Africans to live and work in the country stating that Africans should be able to travel, work, study and trade across borders unimpeded by bureaucracy.
"Training, support for entrepreneurship and innovation, including financing, facilitating market access; creating spaces and opportunities for young people to create, collaborate, test and improve concepts are interventions that require serious commitment.
"A reoriented technology-centered education and training should impart leadership and digital skills in every youth. This is because technology collaboration, innovation, teamwork and linkage building are indispensable for productivity and competitiveness," he added.
