The East African Community (EAC) has been urged to accelerate the implementation of key recommendations aimed at deepening regional integration. The call was made during the EAC Secretary General’s Convening 2026, held in Arusha, bringing together over 100 representatives from civil society, private sector, other interested parties and development partners.
Organised under the Regional Dialogue Committee (RDC), the convening was attended by a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from the East African Business Council (EABC), East Africa Youth Network (EAYN), East Africa County and Local Government Association (EACLGA), East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP), East Africa Health Platform(EAHP), East African Trade Unions Confederations(EATUC), East African Employers Organization(EAEO), East African Child Rights Network (EACRN), East African Civil Society Organisations Forum (EACSOF), members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), East African Court of Justice(EACJ), and development partners.
The convening formally recognised the legacy and contributions of the outgoing Secretary General, Hon. Veronica Mueni Nduva and extended a cordial welcome to the incoming Secretary General, Hon. Amb. Stephen Patrick Mbundi, highlighting the strategic opportunity this transition presents for renewed regional solidarity and inclusive engagement.
Reflecting on the state of regional integration, stakeholders noted structural and emerging challenges slowing down the integration agenda. These include delays in implementing summit directives, specifically in critical institutional initiatives, persistence of non-tariff barriers, particularly the impact of unharmonised transit license requirements on regional transporters and traders. Further, in recognising the role of local governments as the frontline drivers of people-centered integration, stakeholders reaffirmed the need to empower decentralised governance structures to translate regional policies into tangible grassroots benefits.
The two-day event held under the theme “From Summit Directives to Action: Strengthening Regional Integration through Stakeholder Engagement, Accountability, and Leadership,” and supported by GIZ, provided a high-level platform for dialogue and strategic reflection. It aimed to enhance the effectiveness, inclusiveness, and accountability of the regional integration process while generating actionable recommendations to guide the incoming Secretary General.
Following robust multi-sectoral deliberations, the stakeholders resolved to advance the binding recommendations and action points through a Communiqué to the EAC Secretariat that will be presented by the East Africa Law Society (EALS) in its capacity as Chair of the RDC.
The Convening 2026 held on 23 - 24 April serves as a critical bridge between high-level policy commitments and stakeholder-driven implementation. It reaffirms the role of the Secretary General’s Forum as a structured platform for citizen engagement and underscores the importance of translating regional directives into tangible benefits for over 330 million East Africans.
Established under the EAC Consultative Dialogue Framework adopted in 2012, the Regional Dialogue Committee continues to play a central role in ensuring that regional integration remains inclusive, responsive, and results oriented.