When three Kenyan lawyers—Martha Karua, Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi—were reportedly deported from Tanzania under unclear circumstances, it wasn’t just a disappointment for them personally. It was a blow to the broader idea of East African integration. These professionals had been invited by the East African Law Society, making the incident particularly troubling.
The EAC has long promised its people freedom of movement and the ability to work across borders. This principle, enshrined in the Common Market Protocol of 2010, lies at the heart of regional cooperation. Yet more than a decade later, what we often see are silent expulsions and regulatory barriers in the region. These events raise difficult questions: Is the EAC Treaty truly enforceable? Do its ideals translate into practice?
If respected legal professionals can face abrupt removal, what hope exists for the ordinary East African simply seeking to travel or trade across borders? Consider the small-scale trader from Kisumu aiming to expand into Mwanza. These citizens were meant to benefit most from regional integration — but incidents like these undermine that promise.
When prominent figures encounter barriers or are reportedly expelled for whatever reasons, it sends a concerning message: regional rights and freedoms may be subject to arbitrary decisions.
True integration requires trust — not only among governments but also between people. When that trust is compromised, the integrity of the bloc is weakened. Member states should be held accountable to the commitments they have voluntarily made.
If the vision of a united East Africa — where professionals, students and traders move freely — is to be realised, political goodwill and greater openness are vital. Measures perceived as exclusionary or undemocratic must be reconsidered if the region is to move towards a genuine political federation.
