Ruto: Time is ripe for review of EAC Treaty

President William Ruto has backed calls to review the  East African Community Treaty.

Speaking on Friday, the Head of State said there were various areas that needed to be reviewed.

"It is time to look at the treaty, especially over languages used at EALA. Of course, Kiswahili will continue playing a very big role in the assembly," Ruto said.

The President said many developments have taken place and should be captured in the founding law.

Ruto was responding to EALA Speaker Joseph Nkakirutimana's request for a review of the EAC Treaty.

Nkakirutimana and other delegates were hosted by President Ruto at State House, Nairobi.

East African Community CS Rebecca Miano was also at State House for the meeting while the speaker was accompanied by Kenya EALA MPs Hassan Omar, Kanini Kega and Zipporah Kering, and EALA deputy clerk John Mutega.

President Ruto noted that work has begun on the need to give EALA financial autonomy like regional parliaments.

"The Council of Ministers is looking into the matter and has tasked the EAC secretariat to come up with a plan," he said.

The Head of State went further and commended the progress the EAC has made since it was established nearly 25 years ago.

Ruto said the community started as a three-member bloc, comprising Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, but has since grown to seven members.

Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are among the countries that have joined the regional bloc after its founding.

The President highlighted that Somalia is likely to be the latest member to join EAC.

"Somalia is likely to join after an assessment is completed. There is also a possibility that Ethiopia and Sudan could join the EAC," Ruto said.

As a result, Ruto pointed out that the bloc must, therefore, build enough capacity required by a huge regional bloc.

In addition, the President assured the Speaker of Kenya's support, adding that the country is ably represented at EALA.

On his side, Speaker Nkakirutimana commended President Ruto for the support Kenya EALA MPs gave him during his election.

"Kenya's vote was the most decisive during my election," he said.

Nkakirutimana noted that EALA being part of the EAC has set the pace and other African regional economic blocs visit for benchmarking. He, however, said many challenges remain.

"EALA is the best-placed organ in the EAC to lead the conversation on ways of taking the regional bloc to the next level," he said.

The Speaker however noted the lack of an autonomous budget and temporary staff, some of whom have worked for 20 years are among the challenges facing EALA.