New details have emerged about President Uhuru Kenyatta’s new role at the helm of the East African Community after taking over from Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Saturday, February 27, 2021.
Shortly after assuming office, one of the things on his intray was appointing the EAC Secretary-General where he turned down applications from a number of Kenyans including Sports CS Amina Mohammed, EAC CS Adan Mohammed and Foreign Affairs CAS Ababu Namwamba.
CS Amina is a career diplomat who left a high-flying job at the UN to join President Uhuru’s first cabinet as Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary.
She has extensive experience in negotiating international treaties and is also a lawyer by training.
As the Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Namwamba was also eyeing the EAC Secretary General position to grow his diplomatic career, which is a break from active politics.
The three were part of the 12 candidates out of whom the Head of State picked Peter Mathuki.
Mathuki was fronted by the private sector as a suitable choice to help address the challenges facing the community such as internal wrangles and trade disputes.
He is Executive Director of the East African Business Council, a body that includes private sector associations in member states of the EAC.
Corporate players are said to have strongly lobbied for the appointment of Mathuki.
He will serve in the position for five years, having taken over from Burundi's Liberat Mfumukeko.
Among the highest-paid EAC staff are secretary-general, his deputies, and the regional court judges who earn more than Ksh2 million per month each.
East African Legislative Assembly members take home up to Sh1,490,800 per month in salaries and allowances.
