Kenya is one step closer to strengthening its economic relations with its East African counterparts in trade matters, as Kenya deposited its Instrument of Ratification for the amendment to Article 24(2)(a) of the Protocol establishing the East African Community Customs Union.
This comes at a time when Kenya’s new Consul General to the East African Community, Ambassador Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange, made a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva at the East African Community Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
This is a process whereby a country notifies all other parties to a treaty that all procedures for approval of a treaty are complete, and therefore, is bound by its provisions.
The amendments to Article 24(2)(a) are geared towards improving procedures for trade remedy in the Customs Union. Trade remedy procedures are essentially those procedures adopted by a country to address unfair trade practices, such as dumping and/or a surge in imports, which may negatively affect its industries. With this amendment, Partner States are likely to be guided on a more predictable path when dealing with such issues.
For business entities that engage in trade in the East African region, the key issue is the element of predictability. The business entities would like to have the confidence that the rules will not change overnight.
According to the government, the amendment will ensure that the rules-based system is reinforced, giving the market the confidence it needs.
During the meeting, Nduva, flanked by her deputies and senior officials from customs, trade, and legal affairs, briefed the ambassador on the state of the Community. This included the current state of integration.
They also discussed the upcoming EAC Summit of the Heads of State, scheduled for the 7th of March, 2026, in Arusha.
The move by Kenya is crucial at such an important time, especially when the East African region is seeking to make the region competitive in the global market.
The move shows that the country is willing to take the integration process to the next level in the East African region.