By Dorothy Musyoka
Cabinet Secretary for the East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development, Beatrice Askul, appeared before the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee to provide an update on the status of regional integration within the East African Community (EAC).
The session, chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech, reviewed Kenya’s progress and that of the wider region since the revival of the EAC in 1999, which has seen the establishment of a Customs Union, a Common Market, and major infrastructure achievements such as the Single Customs Territory.
Highlighting Kenya’s strong trade performance, CS Askul noted that the EAC remains the country’s largest single regional market.
”The data clearly shows that the EAC is Kenya’s largest single regional market, absorbing 75.5% of our total exports to Africa in 2024. The protocols have been a catalyst, with our total exports to the Community hitting KSh. 321.35 billion in 2024,” CS Akul noted.
Lawmakers pressed the CS on several key challenges, including uneven implementation of protocols, financial constraints facing the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and recent restrictions imposed on Kenyan small traders in Tanzania.
On the issue of trade with Tanzania, CS Askul confirmed that Kenya maintains a trade surplus, exporting goods worth KSh 67.20 billion against imports valued at KSh 58.72 billion in 2024.
Addressing concerns over non-compliance by some Partner States, the CS explained that uneven implementation of EAC protocols is linked to varying national capacities and priorities.
Responding to questions on the ban affecting Kenyan small traders in Tanzania, the CS confirmed that bilateral engagements are underway to resolve the matter.
“It is true there was a gazette notice on July 28th 2025 by the Republic of Tanzania. The rights of EAC citizens to enter an establishment markets is enriched in Article 13 and 16 of the East Africa Community Protocol. We had our technical team meeting in Tanzania engaging in bilateral talks to resolve the matter,” she stated.
CS Askul reaffirmed Kenya’s unwavering commitment to deepening integration, noting that the ultimate goal remains the establishment of a Monetary Union by 2031 to unlock the full potential of a market of over 310 million people.
The Committee pledged continued support, including enhancing budgetary allocations to strengthen the work of the State Department in driving Kenya’s regional development and integration agenda.