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TANZANIA, KENYA LAUDS EAST AFRICAN INTEGRATION March 27, 2006
Apunyu Bonny
(SomaliNet) Kenyan President, Mwai Kibaki and Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete have expressed overwhelming support for the East African integration appealing to lawmakers from the East African sub-region to reach out to people and enlighten them on the benefits of integration. People’s daily reported Sunday.
Kibaki said on Friday, that the new East African partnership should be people-centered and people-driven, and called on lawmakers to work closely with people in an effort to eradicate false perceptions, unfounded fears and suspicions, which can hinder or slow the process of integration
"This underscores the need to educate our people about the benefits of political and economic integration in order to create the required understanding and commitment right up to the grassroots level," said Kibaki.
According to Kenya’s Kibaki, the lawmakers in the partner states have an important role to play in facilitating the process of integration as negotiations on outstanding issues continue.
Kikwete assured President Kibaki that Tanzania was ready to work with Kenya and Uganda to ensure a vibrant and viable regional integration and realize the dream of an East African federation the soonest possible.
"Allow me to take note and highly commend you for your tireless efforts aimed at expediting the East Africa integration process. Your devotion and commitment on the matter is and has always been appreciated by me," President Kikwete said to his host.
President Kikwete expressed satisfaction that negotiations on the draft protocol on free movement of persons, labor, services, rights of establishment and residence have commenced, which further underscores the East Africans' commitment to the integration process in the sub-region.