Kenya goods lose edge in rush for single trade bloc

On the other hand, SADC is currently implementing a free trade area with Comesa and EAC which should allow free movement of specified goods among 26 member states into a combined market of close to 600 million people ,commanding a combined wealth of more than $700 billion.

Extend blame

Within EAC, official figures indicate that the breakneck pace of regional integration has outpaced the growth in intra regional trade which has grown from five per cent in 2005 to only 13 per cent by the beginning of this year.

Most of the 126 million citizens of the region still find it easier to transact trade with non EAC members (accounting for 87 per cent of all their dealings) than face the official barriers in the regional market.

“All these barriers originate from the private sector in the region because when an industry seeks protection in one country, there are bound to be similar reciprocal moves by other member states,” said Mr David Nalo, Kenya’s EAC Permanent Secretary.

On last week, former British Minister for Overseas Development Baroness Lynda Chalker extended the blame for low intra- regional trade to poor transport logistics especially on the borders of the EAC partner states.