East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 15th July, 2021: A delegation from the Horn of Africa Youth Network (HoAYN) led by its Executive Director, Mr. David Momanyi, today paid a courtesy call on EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. Accompanying the HoAYN Executive Director was Mr. Sankale Ole Keis; Chairman of the HoAYN and Ms. Agnes Airo, Regional Youth Advisor-Save the Children.
Receiving the delegation, Dr. Mathuki hailed HoAYN for its efforts in fostering sustainable, equitable and youth-led development in East and the Horn of Africa region.
East African Court of Justice, 15th July 2021; The Judge President accompanied by other Judges paid a Courtesy call on Chief Justice (CJ) and President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya, Lady Justice Martha Koome to discuss on the working relations.
Lady Justice Koome applauded the growth of the jurisdiction of the Court in handling human rights matters. “I am not new to EACJ having been a founder member and official of East African Law Society and I am happy to be part of the Court.” said the CJ.
Justice Koome who is 6 weeks old in the Office of the Chief Justice called upon the EACJ President and the entire Court to work together as brothers and sisters to support her work of CJ which is a shared responsibility for the interest of people of East Africa. "My work is to build on what my predecessor started in sustaining Judiciary transformation and focus on social justice through meditation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanism." said Justice Koome.
Her Ladyship also indicated the need to reduce the backlog of cases in the national courts, however the judiciaries continue to face various challenges including human resource capital, budget shortage, infrastructure among others. She therefore emphasized that with good faith and working together, resources can always be found.
On his part, Judge President Justice Nestor Kayobera informed the Chief Justice, that since he assumed the office of the President of the Court, he has not found difficulties in working with the other Heads of EAC Organs and he has already started working with the National judiciaries for example the meeting he held with 420 Judicial officers in Burundi to learn the relationship with the EACJ and its functioning. His Lordship added that this will be replicated in other Partner States.
His Lordship commended Lady Justice Koome for hosting the EACJ Sub-registry at Milimani Commercial Courts in Nairobi to contribute to access of the Court which is for the Citizens of East Africa. Justice Kayobera retaliated the teamwork spirit, good will and Judicial Diplomacy which will resolve several challenges faced by the Judiciaries across the region for the benefit of the people of EAC.
He also informed the CJ that the Court is planning to hold sessions in the Partner States to enhance awareness of the Court to the public. “I am very confident that Lady Justice Koome being the Chair of Chief Justices' forum a lot will be achieved” said Justice Kayobera.
The President of the Court concluded by informing the CJ that during the CJs forum meeting that was held in Kigali in May this year, decided to revise its functioning and that the next meeting will be held in Nairobi in December 2021. The forum also decided that the report of the activities of the East Africa Judicial Education Committee chaired by Justice Kathurima Judge of the Appellate Division, will be tabled before the CJ's forum before going to the Sectoral Council on legal and judicial affairs attended by Attorneys General.
In attendance of the Courtesy call also was the Vice President, Principal Judge, Deputy Principal Judge, the Registrar as well as Staff of the Court.
For more information please contact:
Yufnalis Okubo Registrar East African Court of Justice Arusha, Tanzania Tel: 255-27-2162149 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Court of Justice
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.
Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 14th July, 2021: The outgoing German Development Bank (KfW) Country Director for the United Republic of Tanzania, Mrs. Annika Calov, on Wednesday 14th July, 2021, bid farewell to EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Mrs. Calov, who was accompanied by her successor, Mrs. Jennifer Woerl, told the Secretary General that she was proud of the positive developments taking place in regional integration in East Africa.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 14th July, 2021: The International Labour Organization (ILO) Director for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, Mr. Wellington Chibebe, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Receiving the ILO Director, Dr. Mathuki expressed his appreciation for the cordial and strong relationship between ILO and the EAC in the pursuit of the Community’s objectives over the years.
East African Court of Justice, 13th July 2021; The Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya, Hon Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki officiated the Training for Judges on good governance and rule of law in East Africa which set off yesterday in Nairobi.
The four-day training under the theme “Enhancing the ability of the Bench and the Bar in East Africa to promote and expand the East African civic space through the East African Court of Justice Architecture” is being attended by all Judges of the EACJ.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 12th July,2021: East African Community Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, has urged African countries to instill strong value systems in the youth at an early stage as part of efforts to combat corruption on the continent.
Dr. Mathuki said that instilling values and building the capacity of the youth to fight corruption at an early age would bring about a generation that abhorred corruption.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th July, 2021: The United Republic of Tanzania has launched its Trade information Portal which is expected to boost intra-regional trade in East Africa as well as the region’s share of international trade.
The Tanzania Trade Information Portal was launched during the Saba Saba International Trade Fair held in the East African nation’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, by Zanzibar’s Minister for Trade and Industry Development, Hon. Said Omar Shabani, assisted by Hon. Exaud Silaoneka Kigahe (MP), the Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th July, 2021: The East African Community and the East African Business Council (EABC), the umbrella body bringing together private sector associations in East Africa, today launched the EAC-EABC Technical Working Group at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC-EABC Technical Working Group (TWG) that draws its membership from EAC and EABC is meant to spearhead initiatives that will benefit the private sector in East Africa. The EAC Director General for Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, will chair the TWG.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th July, 2021: The Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr. John V. K. Mongella, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Receiving the RC, Hon. Dr. Mathuki said that it was the wish of the Summit of EAC Heads of State that the Community should be taken to the people at the grassroots who are its actual owners. Dr. Mathuki said that under the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, the integration process is supposed to be people-centred and market-driven with the private sector as the engine of economic growth.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 07th July, 2021:The EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, has commended a team of cycling enthusiasts in the region for their commitment to the EAC integration process and their desire to spread the EAC gospel across the region as they prepare to embark on the 55-day, 6,000km long Great African Cycling Safari.
“The East African Community is for the people of East Africa, and I salute you, our brave cyclists for your commitment and desire to take the East African Community to the people, through this cycling safari,” said Dr. Mathuki.
The Secretary General was speaking during the official launch of the 4th Great African Cycling Safari, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, earlier today.
Dr. Mathuki said that the Great African Cycling Safari was a worthy cause that should be supported by all Partner States, adding that it presents a unique opportunity for the integration not only in the region but in Africa as a whole, unified by the power of sports.
“This is the greatest cycling event in the world, the world-renowned Tour de France is a 10-day, 3,000 kilometre event. We must therefore take pride that our youth have come up with this initiative,” said the Secretary General.
The Secretary General said that the cyclists aim to create awareness around the integration process by sensitizing communities resident along the bike tour as they interact with them.
“This is of importance to the EAC because you are taking the integration process to the people who are its actual owners,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, the East African Business Council (EABC) Executive Director/CEO, Mr. John Bosco Kalisa commended the cyclists for their efforts in promoting a spirit of East Africanness, one that was built on unity, peace, and collective development.
Mr. Kalisa reaffirmed EABC’s commitment to partner and support the event by engaging EABC members and business leaders to join in the cycling segments, offer sponsorships, as well as in-kind donations as part of the private sector’s corporate social responsibility.
The Chairman of the Great African Cycling Safari, Mr. Francis Munywoki, said that the 2021 edition of the Safari being held under the theme “Green Africa: Experience Africa, Integrate Humanity” is also meant to create awareness on the various aspects of climate change.
“We are embarking on a journey to not only create awareness on the EAC integration agenda and the climate change challenges on the region, but to also do something to actually fix these challenges,” said Mr. Munywoki.
“There will be opportunities to plants tress, we already have 1,000 trees that have been donated by a partner, which we shall plant in Tanzania before we set off to Kenya,” he added.
Mr. Munywoki said that the Great African Cycling Safari presents an opportunity to re-write the African story.
Logfire Camps Executive and Expedition Director, Mr. John Bosco Balongo said that this year’s safari was an adventure and an opportunity for cycling enthusiasts to enjoy a sport they love and see the beauty East Africa has to offer.
“We expect this to be the biggest of the other three we have hosted in the past and are looking forward to growing this event to be a recognised international competitive event,” said Mr. Balongo.
During the border crossings of the Safari, the EAC together with EABC shall organize Public-Private Dialogues with Trade Facilitation Agencies at the EAC One-Stop Borders Posts as a platform to deliberate on challenges and strategies to better facilitate trade.
Over the last four years, the Great African Cycling Safari has successfully staged progressive cycling tours through all East African capitals under the banner of East African Bicycle Tour also known as Tour d’EAC.
These tours have brought together local and international biking enthusiasts from all walks of life to experience the unique terrain and exotic culture, create awareness and promote the integration of East Africans and Africans in general.
This year’s event is envisaged to be the biggest cycling event in the world. It will officially kick off on 1st August, 2021 for a period of 55 days and come to a close at the EAC Headquarters on 25th September, 2021.
More than 1,000 participants from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia will cover 6,000 kilometers, traversing through five East African capitals, one city at a time. This year’s tour will start in Dar es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania and pass-through Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Bujumbura, Dodoma and terminate in Arusha on the foot hills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain.
Participants can register for the event online, https://eactour.bike for US$25 for East Africans and US$ 500 for Non-East Africans for the entire tour. Cyclists have the choice of choosing a segment of any length they would like to join.
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: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
