H.E Uhuru Kenyatta Reassures Support to EAC Integration Agenda
East African Community Secretariat; Nairobi, Kenya; 25 February 2017:
The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko yesterday Friday 24th February 2017 paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi, accompanied by his Deputy in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge.
Also present at the courtesy visit was Hon. Phyllis Kandie; the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Labour and Social Protection and Ms. Betty Maina; the Principal Secretary in the State Department of East African Affairs in the Republic of Kenya.
The Secretary General briefed H.E Uhuru Kenyatta on organizational changes at the Secretariat to ensure operational and financial efficiency, the integration of the Republic of South Sudan into the Community, increased confidence on the Secretariat by the international community, as well as a few challenges being encountered in the integration agenda.
Amb. Liberat took note of the upcoming General Elections in the Republics of Kenya and Rwanda, and informed H.E. Kenyatta that EAC is preparing to dispatch Election Observer Missions to the two Partner States. He also informed the President about the upcoming 18th Summit of the EAC Heads of State which is planned to take place on 6 April 2017 in Arusha, Tanzania.
On his part, President Kenyatta assured the Secretary General of Kenya’s commitment to the regional integration process and confirmed participation in the upcoming 18th Summit of the EAC Heads of State. H.E Uhuru Kenyatta also indicated that Kenya will present its budget proposal earlier than June as the country prepares for august elections. EAC Partner States have had a traditional of presenting their budget simultaneously in June to the national parliament.
The President also urged the Secretary General to ensure efficiency in the use of resources at the EAC and to ensure that reforms are geared towards saving costs.President Kenyatta once again congratulated the Secretary General upon his appointment and wished him success as he steers EAC for the next five years.
In another development, Amb. Mfumukeko met and discussed with Hon. Phyllis Kandie the current liquidity challenges facing the Community. Present at the meeting were the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge and Ms. Betty Maina. At the meeting, the EAC Secretariat was tasked to propose mitigation measures aimed at addressing prevailing financial constraints and present to the Policy Organ, the Council of Ministers.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.