EAC: Kenyatta attended the EAC summit in Arusha for the first time

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya’s newly elected Head of State President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was among the heads of states and governments of the East African Community{EAC} who were in attendance at the Summit of the regional trading bloc held in the Northern Tanzanian City Arusha last Sunday.

The one day Summit, which brought together heads of states of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania was held at the Ngurudoto Mountain Lodge, which is located about ten kilometers outside Arusha town.

Other heads o state who were in attendance included Yoweri Museveni {Uganda}, Jakaya Kikwete {Tanzania} Pierre Nkurunzinza {Burundi} and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

At the end of the one day summit, the EAC leaders sign draft resolution in which they sent out a strong message that the region would not tolerate insecurity or destabilization that would scare off investors an undermine development efforts.

The leaders further stated that with the recent discovery of oil and gas deposits, the region must get rid of any efforts o derail its quest to settle down and tap the vast natural resources for development.

“No one should be allowed to derail or to destabilize the region. Our region is now conducive for massive investment and development ‘” said President Museveni who read the final draft to the newsmen.

President Kenyatta on his part stressed that instability must be fought off in order to make the ac region a pace which is conducive for investment and development. CHEERED TO BY HIS COLLEAGUES, President Kenyatta who attended the summit for the first time since he was elected to the office following March 4 ,2013 general election in Kenya was the center of interest by onlookers and government officials.

President Kenyatta said the stability must remain a critical ingredient for the future development and prosperity.

The Kenyan leader said that his country’s priority will be to work closely with the EAC partner states.

Meanwhile other information emerging or the EAC Arusha based secretariat says the five member countries have raised concerns about Tanzanian reluctance to scrap the work permit stance that is still undermining the free flow of labor across the region.

THE LAST Sunday summit meeting asked Tanzania to consider resolving the issue and report on it during the net East African Legislative assembly meeting scheduled for Uganda next months.

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