Kenyans to be educated on EAC market

A sensitisation programme to educate Kenyans on the benefits of the East African Common Market, which takes effect in June this year, will soon be launched by the ministry for East African Community (EAC).

Already, a comprehensive package that includes a fully-fledged communication department has been put in place to roll out the programme in the first week of this month, said Mr Amason Kingi, Kenya’s minister for EAC.

In his New Year message, President Mwai Kibaki, said the common market protocol, which seeks to ensure free movement of people, goods and services in the five countries within the region, will be formally put in place after the heads of States sign it.

“Kenyans must now start thinking as citizens of East Africa and that is why the ministry concerned must start educating people to prepare to reap from the market’s benefits,” the president said in Mombasa. Mr Kingi said the programme had been drawn a while back but had but had not taken off due to lack of funds.

“The good news, however, is that the government allocated funds in the current Budget, which have also been boosted by external donors, including the British Department for International Development (DFID). We will be signing an MOU with donors to release the funds early this month,” he said.

“To set the ball rolling, a sensitisation programme that includes the setting up of integration centres in selected border points to help people understand what the protocol is all about is being developed.

The minister added that due to inadequate funding, the ministry will start with at least two border points that will be preceded by a thorough look at the protocol by the Cabinet, to have the relevant laws and instruments in place,” he said in an interview with the Nation in Mombasa, adding that the ministry will require about Sh100 millon.

Domesticate

He said the laws will put in place legal systems that will domesticate the protocol, noting that through the campaign, Kenyans will be able to understand the different stages of cooperation that will ultimately lead to political federation.

The other protocols include the customs union. Mr Kingi said the campaign will not focus on conferences and workshops, as these would lock out ordinary Kenyans who should also benefit.

“Conferences and workshops are elitist, that is why we will carry out barazas and open air meetings to reach out to more Kenyans.

“With time, however, such programmes will be included in education curricula of all the East African countries, making it an examinable subject at all levels of education,” the minister said.