Regional Heads of Public Service and Ministers meet to deliberate on action plans for regional integration and leadership development
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 13th March, 2025: Regional Heads of Public Service and Ministers in charge of East African Community (EAC) Affairs from the EAC Partner States have committed to take decisive action to ensure the embedding of regional integration into national policies as part of efforts to equip government leaders to effectively drive the EAC integration agenda.
The move aims at aiding in overcoming regional challenges and unlocking the full economic potential of the region.
The leaders convened today in Arusha, Tanzania, for a two-day dialogue themed, ‘Strategic Dialogue for Heads of Public Service and Ministers.’
The meeting identified several barriers hindering integration, including fragmented national policies that often operate in silos. They noted that this has slowed the implementation of EAC commitments and undermined the region’s capacity for coordinated action.
The leaders highlighted weak engagement frameworks for Heads of Public Service, which limit the effective alignment of national governance with regional priorities. Additionally, they also flagged inadequate human and financial resources within public institutions as significant constraints to advancing integration initiatives.
To address these challenges, the meeting called for a robust monitoring mechanism to track the alignment of national commitments with regional objectives. This mechanism will ensure measurable progress and reinforce accountability across all levels of governance.
The forum emphasised the need for stronger policy alignment, sustained collaboration and reinforced accountability measures. The leaders also stressed the importance of implementing a performance monitoring framework to guarantee consistent progress in the harmonisation of regional integration and governance.
The Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands & Regional Development, Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, urged the Heads of Public Service from the Partner States to ensure compliance with commitments made at the regional level.
“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 Hon. Moe.
On his part, the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Kenya, Mr. Felix Koskei, called on all EAC Partner States to prioritise fulfilling their financial obligations to the EAC to continue enjoying the benefits of integration. Mr. Koskei called for the implementation of directives made by EAC Heads of State, ratification of protocols and instruments, and deepening of trust between Partner States.
Speaking during the event, Uganda's Minister for EAC Affairs and First Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, stressed the importance of the Heads of Public Service familiarising themselves with regional laws, as these laws become binding once passed.
She called on Partner States to be firm in their commitments, stressing the importance of walking the talk and following through on promises to drive true integration within the Community.
Hon. Kadaga underscored the need to understand how to onboard new members, track actions and implement directives effectively. Additionally, she raised the issue of strengthening coordination between the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the region’s National Parliaments to ensure the seamless integration of regional decisions into national policies.
On her part, Ms. Lucy Nakyobe, the Head of Public Service for the Republic of Uganda, emphasised the need for greater cohesion within the EAC, highlighting that working in silos and guarding national interests does not benefit the region as a whole.
She urged Partners States to focus on streamlining integration at the local government level to ensure that regional goals are effectively implemented.
While welcoming participants, EAC Secretary General, Hon. Veronica Nduva, appreciated the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and GIZ for supporting the dialogue. The Secretary General made a presentation highlighting the critical importance of integrating the regional agenda into the Partner States "whole of government approach."
She emphasised that without integration, the EAC risks facing competing national interests that undermine the integration process. Hon. Nduva pointed out, “the lack of a unified regional approach, combined with inadequate resources and delays in financial disbursements from Partner States, has led to the non-prioritization of commitments.”
She further noted that the derailment in the implementation of policy decisions has resulted in persistent Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), with the lack of uniformity in legal frameworks causing negative effects on regional trade.
To address these issues, the Secretary General called for stronger action from EAC Organs, Coordinating Ministries, and relevant MDAs, including the Office of the Heads of Public Service, to ensure alignment and accountability in implementing the region’s policies and commitments.
On his part, the Director General of the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), Dr. Peter Kiuluku, underscored the urgency for EAC Partner States to think, act, and trade as one.
He called for a shift to a technology-driven economy and urged leaders to implement policies that enhance value creation. Dr. Kiuluku emphasized the role of competitiveness in driving regional growth, advocating for strategic value chains, technology adoption, and policy realignment to position the region globally.
“The future of our region depends on our ability to collaborate, innovate, and take decisive action. We must harness our strengths, align our priorities, and build a resilient economy that competes on the global stage,” said Dr. Kiluku.
He further reaffirmed ESAMI’s commitment to building public sector capacity and supporting strategic dialogues to track progress on the region’s efforts at integration.
By deepening coordination and mobilizing resources, the EAC is committing to drive long-term economic transformation, enhance global competitiveness and deliver on the ambitious goals of the 6th EAC Development Strategy.
Also in attendance were Permanent Secretaries and Under Secretaries in the Ministries of EAC Affairs, Ambassadors, representatives of Government institutions and members of the academia.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight (8) Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Federal Republic of Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc by the Summit of EAC Heads of State on 24th November, 2023 and became a full member on 4th March, 2024