EAC MOVES TO ADDRESS GOVERNANCE ISSUES

KENYA TIMES
February 03, 2009
By Magaga Alot

ARUSHA, TANZANIA

The East African Community (EAC) has embarked on a process of addressing the numerous challenges that have for years hampered good governance among the five partner states. The EAC conference on promoting good governance in Regional Integration took place on January 19 - 21 January , 2009 at Kunduchi Beach Hotel & Resort, Dar es Salaam.

Dr. Diodorus Kamala, Minister for East African Community Cooperation officially opened the Conference. The conference was attended by Chief Justices and Judges from the Judiciary, Speakers and members of National and the Regional East African Legislative Assembly, Heads of Human Rights Commissions, Anticorruption Agencies, National Electoral Commissions, Chairpersons/commissioners from the Law Reform Commissions, Ministers from the Partner States’ Ministries of East African Community Affairs,

Ministry of Local Government and Good Governance, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, The Director, East African standby Brigade Coordination Mechanism, Deputy Executive Secretary, International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, Chairperson, Kituo Cha Katiba, Speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day meeting, Ms Beatrice Kiraso, who is the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation said”Good governance is a key issue for integration.

The two concepts must go hand in hand because regional integration should be people centred and private sector driven for us to archieve the ultimate goal of regional intergration. “she said. If we tackle the issue of good governance with commitment focus and togetherness, I have no doubt that we will attract a mass of people working towards a united East Africa,” she said.

The consultations also revealed challenges and disparities in education and skills development amongst the Partner States. The conference also acknowledged the work of other regional organizations including the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, Kituo cha Katiba and other Regional Economic Communities and noted that there is need for harmonization and coordination of regional initiatives on good governance to promote complementarity and avoid duplication and wastage of resources.