President William Ruto has arrived in Arusha, Tanzania, for the 24th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State.
In an update on Friday, November 29, State House said the summit would focus on the sustainable financing plan for the eight-member economic bloc.
The discussions will include the constitution of the Political Confederation of the East African Community during the two-day session.
Ruto will join the host, Samia Suluhu, Salva Kiir of South Sudan, and outgoing chairman, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi; Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Hassan Sheikh of Somalia will also be in attendance.
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Notably, the summit coincides with the celebration of the EAC's 25 years of "remarkable progress" since its revival.
The event provides an opportunity for the EAC, a market of more than 170 million people, to reflect on its achievements, challenges, and the future of regional integration.
“We must harness emerging opportunities and build a more stable and competitive EAC that will accelerate the creation of a single continental market,” Ruto said.
Earlier, State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said Ruto's agenda will focus on removing trade barriers, enhancing cross-border commerce, and fostering partnerships in critical sectors.
In addition to economic priorities, Hussein said EAC leaders will address pressing concerns related to peace and security and highlight significant initiatives.
"President Ruto will advocate for the removal of trade barriers, the boosting of cross-border commerce, and the enhancement of partnerships in energy, agriculture, and digital innovation to create jobs and improve livelihoods. Leaders will also discuss measures to promote peace and security, including combating transnational crime, managing borders, and resolving conflicts," he said in a statement.
He added, "Key initiatives, such as the South Sudanese Tumaini Initiative and the EAC-led Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace and security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, will feature prominently in the discussions."
Ruto is also expected to hold bilateral talks with regional leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
