President William Ruto has officially taken over the rotational chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) from South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir. This transition, which occurred during the 21st ordinary summit of the EAC Heads of State, marks a key moment in Kenya’s leadership within the regional bloc.

The handover of the EAC chairmanship took place in Arusha Tanzania, where President Ruto emphasized the importance of regional unity and integration in his inaugural address.

He acknowledged the contributions of President Kiir in steering the EAC during a time of both challenges and opportunities and committed to further strengthening the community’s ties. As the new chair of the EAC, Ruto will oversee the implementation of key regional projects, focusing on the bloc’s core objectives, including economic integration, peace and security, infrastructure development, and trade facilitation.

In his speech, Ruto highlighted Kenya’s commitment to fostering closer collaboration with all EAC member states, emphasizing the need to address shared challenges such as climate change, conflicts, and economic disparities. President Kiir, who has led the EAC for the past year, reflected on the bloc’s achievements during his tenure, particularly in the areas of peacebuilding and regional stability.

Kiir’s leadership saw significant strides in strengthening the peace process in South Sudan and promoting co-operation in areas such as infrastructure development and trade within the region. As part of the chairmanship transition, President Ruto called on the EAC to remain steadfast in its mission to build a more integrated, prosperous, and secure East Africa. He underscored the importance of increasing intra-regional trade and advancing the implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol, which aims to allow for the free movement of goods, services, and people across member states.

The EAC, founded in 1967 and revived in 2000, has grown to become one of the most influential regional economic communities in Africa.

The bloc includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, and its activities impact millions of people across the region.