Achievements of EAC Integration Process

Over the last two decades, Kenya has actively participated in regional integration through various regional trading arrangements including the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and lately the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Kenya is also a member of bilateral trade arrangements with a number of countries including EU and USA.

The EAC is a major market for Kenya’s products, creates opportunities for cross-border investment as well as platform for creation of a unified voice in the international arena.

In 2017, for example, Kenya’s exports to EAC recorded Ksh. 131.58 billion as compared to Ksh. 138.03 in 2016. while imports of various products from the Partner States recorded Ksh. 60.97 billion in 2017 as compared to Ksh. 32.94 in 2016. This shows a declining trend on exports compared to imports which is on an upward trend.

The EAC Integration process is anchored on four pillars namely Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and Political Federation. Several milestones have been realized under the EAC Pillars of Integration as follows;