EAC fails familiarity test among citizens

According to the survey 28 per cent of Tanzanians, 21 per cent of Kenyans and 8 per cent of Ugandans see intermarriage as they only sure way to own land and find employment in neighbouring states.

“We have, for instance, established that Kenyans who marry and live in Tanzania are able to very quickly access high level jobs than those who go through the formal process,” said Dr Karega.

In theory, a common market refers to a stage of the economic integration that not only allows citizens to enjoy uniform economic and trade policies but also allows free movement of all the factors of production (capital and labour and of enterprise).

The EAC’s common market protocol however retains clauses that allow national government to apply national laws in matters of immigration, right of business establishment and access to land, meaning the citizens face the tedious screening that those from outside the trading bloc undergo.

The study found that 20 per cent of the Kenyan respondents see employment creation as an immediate benefit of the integration project, compared to 8 per cent of the Ugandans and 5 per cent of the Tanzanians.

Similarly, majority of Kenyans, Tanzanians and Ugandans do not have an idea that Rwanda and Burundi are members of the revived trading bloc.

The two countries that joined the EAC custom union in 2007 have been rebuilding their economies after years of political turbulence, opening up opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals in the region.

In Kenya, only 57.4 per cent and 53 per cent respectively identified Rwanda and Burundi as EAC partner states.

In Uganda only 50.6 per cent and 44 per cent identified Rwanda and Burundi as partners while in Tanzania, a slightly higher number of 71 per cent and 68 per cent named Rwanda and Burundi as partners.

“This variation has probably to do with the fact that the EAC headquarters is in Arusha Tanzania and ordinary citizens are likely to capture news on the additional states because EAC meetings usually takes place there.” said Prof Karega

It is not only the ordinary citizens who feel alienated in the regional integration process however.

In a memorandum to EAC Heads of State after last week’s signing of the common market protocol, East African Business Council chairman Faustin Mbundu decried the arbitrariness of decisions taken by the council of ministers especially with regard to common external tariffs.