Where is public participation in EAC integration?

By RAPHAEL OBONYO

Since the Jubilee government took power early this year, there has been a renewed interest for the integration of East Africa Community (EAC), a move that has generated enthusiasm and controversy in equal measure.

First was the launch of Single Customs Territory recently by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan that experts were quick to point out was done hastily before sufficient institutional measures were put in place to guarantee its success as envisaged.

It is only last month that the Heads of State of the five EAC countries signed the Single Monetary Union Protocol to strengthen integration and economic links in the region, a move that also generated divided debate.

PARADIGM SHIFT

Taking stock of the turbulent career the EAC has taken since it was first mooted in the post- independence period, the growing discontent, especially when it comes from key players towards integration must not be ignored.

This offers a clear testimony that sufficient public participation and consultation of various players is lacking, which will form the basis of the collapse of the efforts the heads of the state are putting together.

The heads of state have started on the wrong footing with the thinking that citizens in individual countries are unanimous in accepting the single currency, single custom territory or any other move the region may take towards integration.

Whereas such moves would be considered critical and call for a referendum in the developed world, our presidents have not looked at them from that perspective. They are treating them casually assuming that the region will be able to surmount future challenges.

During its 15th session held in Kampala last month, the Summit of the EAC Heads of States handed over the rotational leadership to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The President has an opportunity, considering the Kenya’s experience in entrenching democracy, to reform the EAC and make it even stronger.  

Most importantly, the President must leverage the participation of the people of the region in the integration process to enhance a paradigm shift from the view that the EAC is a club of heads of state to an economic block.

The public has to be part of every conversation about the community to ensure ownership.

Strengthening popular participation and a common East African identity, values and political will strengthen regional integration process and dilute the distrust that is evident today.

Without serious involvement of the public, we risk having an EAC, without roots that will not stand the political challenges we are likely to face in future.

It is vital to point out at this early stage that the very idea of proposing a common currency and single customs territory without wide public consultation will lead to a false start.

Second, there is need to de-politicise the EAC. The pace of integration has been quite slow largely because of mistrust among member countries and the renewed speed must hence be seen as suspicious. 

KEY COMPETITOR

For instance, moves such as the recent launch of ‘coalition of the willing’ between Kenya and other countries in East Africa on infrastructure has largely been viewed as an attempt to sideline Tanzania, which hosts Dar es Salaam port, a key competitor to Mombasa port. It is such pitfalls that must be avoided, if we are to build a strong EAC. In this regard, President Uhuru went to great lengths to reassure all parties in his speech during the Kenya@50 celebrations.

Ultimately, we must continue championing a strong and people-driven East African Community that will enhance regional co-operation for greater economic prosperity, social cohesion and political stability. 

With careful and consensual engagement, the Protocol on the Monetary Union and the Common Customs Territory will be long steps in the right direction as the region moves EAC closer to a political federation.

EUROZONE EXPERIENCE

Monetary union, in particular, will make the East African Community a major trading block. Common custom territory will enhance seamless movements of goods and eliminate other non-tariff barriers. 

Also, a unitary currency for East Africa would strengthen competition in the domestic markets of the countries. The single currency would also reduce transacting costs associated with adverse exchange rates.

However, it must not be lost on us that in the case of a common currency, a crisis in one country could create economic problems for all the countries in the block, as experienced in the Eurozone, which can easily collapse the community if it is built on quicksand.

The writer is a Global Young Diplomat and the external adviser on the UN Habitat’s Youth Advisory Board.