"We must acknowledge that the pace of implementation of regional protocols and decisions has sometimes fallen short of our aspirations.
As Heads of Public Service, you are uniquely positioned to ensure compliance with commitments made at the regional level.
Your oversight can help identify bottlenecks, address implementation challenges and hold relevant agencies accountable for their regional obligations," said Beatrice Askul Moe, Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands & Regional Development.
Public service leaders from East African Community (EAC) partner states and ministers in charge of EAC affairs convened in Arusha, Tanzania, for a two-day strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening regional integration.
The event, dubbed the "Strategic Dialogue for Heads of Public Service and Ministers," focused on ensuring that the regional integration agenda is effectively embedded in national policies to foster economic transformation across the region.
The leaders emphasized the importance of overcoming existing barriers to integration, which include fragmented national policies operating in silos.
These barriers, they noted, have often delayed the implementation of EAC commitments and hindered the region’s ability to take coordinated action. Additionally, the lack of robust frameworks for engaging Heads of Public Service and the scarcity of human and financial resources within public institutions were identified as critical challenges.
To address these issues, the meeting called for a comprehensive monitoring mechanism to track the alignment of national commitments with regional objectives, ensuring measurable progress and holding all levels of governance accountable.
This framework aims to reinforce accountability and support the successful integration of regional policies into national governance structures.
Moe urged Heads of Public Service to take a proactive role in ensuring that regional decisions are implemented effectively, highlighting their unique position to oversee compliance and address challenges in the execution of EAC obligations.
On his part, Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service in Kenya, called on all EAC partner states to prioritize fulfilling their financial obligations to the EAC to continue enjoying the benefits of regional integration.
He also emphasized the need for the implementation of directives made by the EAC Heads of State, the ratification of protocols, and deepening trust among partner states.
Uganda's Minister for EAC Affairs and First Deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, stressed the importance of Heads of Public Service familiarizing themselves with regional laws, noting that once passed, these laws become binding.
She urged partner states to stand firm on their commitments, ensuring that promises are followed through to advance true integration within the region.
Lucy Nakyobe, Uganda’s Head of Public Service, called for greater cohesion within the EAC, emphasizing that working in silos and prioritizing national interests over regional goals does not benefit the community as a whole. She urged partner states to focus on streamlining integration at the local government level to ensure that regional objectives are effectively implemented.
EAC Secretary General, Veronica Nduva, highlighted the critical importance of integrating the regional agenda into the partner states’ "whole of government approach."
She emphasized that without integration, competing national interests would continue to undermine the region’s efforts, leading to delayed financial disbursements and a lack of prioritization of regional commitments.
Peter Kiuluku, Director General of the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), emphasized the need for EAC partner states to think, act, and trade as one. He called for a shift towards a technology-driven economy and urged leaders to adopt policies that enhance value creation and competitiveness, driving the region’s economic growth and global positioning.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to deepening regional coordination, mobilizing resources, and driving long-term economic transformation. By reinforcing accountability and prioritizing regional policies, the EAC aims to enhance its global competitiveness and achieve the ambitious goals outlined in the 6th EAC Development Strategy.
Also in attendance were permanent secretaries, undersecretaries from EAC Ministries, ambassadors, government representatives, and members of academia.
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