Background
In 1998, the Government of Kenya established the Ministry of East African and Regional Cooperation to coordinate the affairs of the EAC, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In 1999, the EAC Affairs functions were transferred to a department within the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry and later in 2003, as a department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2004 the Ministry of East African Community and Regional Cooperation was established and later renamed the Ministry of East African Community (MEAC) in 2006. In 2013, following the reorganization of government in line with the 2010 Constitution, the EAC functions were placed under the State Department for East African Affairs (SDEAA) within the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism.
The Department was later renamed the State Department for East African Community Integration (SDEACI) in 2016 under the Ministry of East African Community, Labour and Social Protection. Following the re-organization of the Government in June, 2018, the Ministry of East African Community and Regional Development was created. The creation of the Ministry was also in line with the Treaty for establishment of EAC and Directives of the EAC Heads of State Summit. Pursuant to the Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, the Ministry was renamed to East African Community (EAC), the ASALs and Regional Development comprising of two State Departments namely:
- The State Department for East African Community
- The State Department for the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development
The mandate of the Ministry, focuses on coordinating Kenya’s engagement in the EAC integration, Northern Corridor Development programmes as well as coordination of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development. This involves working closely with the Ministries, Counties, Departments and Agencies (MCDAs); Private Sector; civil society; and engagement with Kenyan Citizenry, EAC Organs and Institutions and the other Partner States.
The Ministry of East African Community (EAC), the ASALs and Regional Development derives its mandate from the Executive Order No.1 of January, 2023. The Ministry was established with the following mandate;
- Policy on East African Community.
- Implementation of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community
- Negotiation and Implementation of EAC protocols
- Develop and Implement policies and programmes to fast-track regional integration
- Co-ordination of Implementation of EAC Regional Programmes and Projects
- Co-ordination of Government’s Participation in East African Community Affairs
- Domestication of regional agreements in all areas
- Monitor Implementation of Summit and Council Directives/Decisions
- Sustainable development of Lake Victoria Basin and other shared resources
- East African Community Organs and Institutions
- Create awareness on the aspiration of East African Community Integration
- Promote public participation in the EAC Integration Process
- Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of Northern Corridor Development
- Provide Secretariat Services during Ministerial and Head of States Summit Meetings
- Arid and Semi – Arid Lands Policy
- Co-ordination of Planning, and Development for Arid and Semi – Arid Lands
- Implementation of Special Programmes for Development of Arid and Semi-Arid Areas
- Implementation of Arid and Semi- Arid Lands Programmes
- Co-ordinating Research for sustainable Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Resource Management, Development and Livelihoods
- Promotion of Livestock Development, Marketing and Value addition of Resources within Arid and Semi- Arid Areas
- Enhancing Livelihood Resilience of Pastoral and Agro Pastoral Communities
- Co-ordinating Responses Against Drought and Desertification
- Food Relief Management and Humanitarian Emergency Response
- Peace Building and Conflict Management within Arid and Semi-Arid Area
- Management and promotion of integrated cross border activities in identified ASAL Counties
- Regional Development Policy Implementation, oversight and management
- Co-ordination of Regional Development Authorities