Eastern Africa is in crisis. Hunger, disease, floods and displacement are affecting millions across the region — and yet, the East African Community (EAC) remains strangely silent. According to a recent United Nations report, over 58 million people in the region are going hungry and nearly nine million children are severely malnourished. This isn’t just another statistic—it’s a desperate cry for help.
But where is the EAC? We’ve seen leaders shake hands at summits, heard them speak proudly about regional integration, and watched them sign deals on trade, roads, and railways. But when it comes to something far more urgent — saving lives—that unity disappears. Suddenly, those strong voices go quiet.
Sudan and South Sudan are both facing famine. Ethiopia and Somalia are overwhelmed by conflict and disease. Uganda is hosting nearly two million refugees. Kenya is battling floods and cholera outbreaks, while also sheltering hundreds of thousands of displaced people. These are not isolated problems. They are regional emergencies requiring coordinated and lasting solutions.
So, why is the EAC behaving like a bystander?
When people are starving and families are being forced to flee their homes with nothing, we expect urgency. But all we see is silence. No action. No clear plan.
Being a community means standing together in difficult times. Right now, the EAC appears more like a collection of disconnected governments than a family of nations. Apart from lofty speeches at regional and international fora, there is no comprehensive plan to address these recurring crises.
It’s time for the EAC to act. The region urgently needs a joint emergency fund for swift disaster response. It needs harmonised health systems to manage disease outbreaks. It needs united efforts to bring peace to conflict-torn areas. And yes, it must invest in local solutions — such as climate-smart agriculture and access to clean water — instead of continuously relying on often unreliable foreign aid.
This is a defining moment for the Community. Will it rise to the challenge and prove it is more than just a talking shop? Or will it be remembered as a failed project that stood idle while millions suffered?
The time to act is now. If the EAC truly believes in unity and shared progress, it must begin with saving lives. Solidarity is not just about trade — it is about showing up when your people need you most.
When people are starving and families are being forced to flee their homes with nothing, we expect urgency. But all we see is silence. No action. No clear plan.
■ Isaac Mwangi writes on social, political and economic issues in East Africa. E-mail: isaacmmwangi@gmail.com
