National

By Brian Otieno | 2 hours ago

President William Ruto is banking on enhanced cooperation between Kenya and her East African neighbours to increase trade and market access for Kenyan goods and services.

Such engagements could see the region establish a pooled procurement model of medicinal products and health technologies, and jointly push for free trade area agreements with other nations and economic blocs.

Dr Ruto’s plans are included in the targets for the Ministry of East African Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development, which should be achieved by June next year.

One of the targets for EAC Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul is negotiating the conclusion of three regional free trade area agreements with the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.

During the validation of the ministry’s performance contract, overseen by Eliud Owalo, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Performance and Delivery, Askul committed to negotiating the conclusion of regional value chain frameworks.

The value-chain frameworks will target multiple products, such as automotive, textiles and apparel, and pharmaceuticals.

Askul said she would enhance the capacity of the private sector and Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises to access the EAC market.

Similarly, she pledged to finalise negotiations for the EAC tariff offer for select products in the African Continental Free Trade Area and negotiate for the review of the one-area network among partner states, even as she seeks to harmonise the programming with EAC countries on a single customs territory.

Since his ascendance to the presidency, Ruto has been keen to influence the region and continent, seeking more cooperation among African states to ensure they have a bigger say on the global stage.

Transport CS Davies Chirchir also made commitments for the year, which include the construction of 751.34 kilometres of roads by next June and the maintenance of more than 40,000km of road.

The Kenya National Highways Authority will construct 192 kilometres, with the Kenya Rural Roads Authority planning to construct the longest network at 485.14 km. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority will construct some 74.2 kilometres.

Ruto’s government has tarmacked more than 1,300 kilometres of roads and highways in the last two years.

Other commitments include the negotiation, review and ratification of bilateral air service agreements to open new routes for passengers and cargo. The ministry targets to negotiate agreements with Latvia and Venezuela and review an existing one with Tanzania.

Chirchir also pledged to improve port services through the development of the Dongo Kundu First Berth and Shimoni Port, both along Kenya’s coast and implement the bus-rapid transit system. “The ministry commits to overseeing Lines 2 and 4 of the Bus Rapid Transit implementation within the Nairobi Metropolitan area,” pledged Chirchir. 

On his part, Education CS Julius Ogamba restated the ministry’s commitment to constructing 11,000 new classrooms across public schools, developing a university competency-based education framework and enhancing digital literacy.