As the East African Community (EAC) advances its vision of deeper regional integration, it is increasingly clear that political commitment must go beyond symbolic gestures. Flying the EAC flag in government offices or singing the regional anthem at official events is not enough to convince East Africans that integration is real, credible and working for them. For the project to gain legitimacy, integration must be rooted in the domestic political agendas of all partner states—embedded directly into party platforms during general elections.
Tanzania has just concluded its elections but Uganda heads to the polls next year followed by Kenya in 2027. These elections offer a critical opportunity. Every political party seeking office should be required—either by electoral guidelines or political consensus—to articulate clear positions on EAC integration: how they will advance free movement, strengthen regional trade, promote cross-border infrastructure and support shared institutions.
Citizens deserve to know where their leaders stand on issues that affect their daily lives, from trade barriers that raise costs of goods to labour mobility that expands job opportunities. When integration is left outside domestic politics, it becomes an elite-driven project, disconnected from the concerns of ordinary people.
Mainstreaming EAC integration into party manifestos would also improve accountability. Governments would no longer treat regional commitments as optional. Instead, they would be bound by electoral promises, enabling voters to evaluate progress and demand results.
If East Africa truly seeks a political federation in the future, integration must start at home—within the political parties that shape each nation’s destiny. Only then will the EAC become a people-centered community, trusted and championed by its citizens.
