President Kenyatta in Kigali for NCIP Summit

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his delegation arrived in Kigali Rwanda this morning for the 12^th Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit (NCIP).

The initiative was first launched by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with South Sudan joining later. The drive to fast track regional integration has continued to attract more countries that have shown readiness to come on board.

Other countries like Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been participating in the Summit on observer status.

This year the NCIP Summit will review the progress in the 14 reserved projects, emerging issues, challenges faced as well as the way forward with the aim of fast-tracking sustainable development of the region through citizen-centred integration.

The Eastern Africa region has witnessed significant progress in infrastructure development over the last two years following the inception of the Northern Corridor Integrations Projects with the direct supervision of the Presidents of the partner States, who hold summits every two months to review progress.

A report was carried out two days ago by senior regional officials, permanent secretaries and heads of institutions who reside from the participating countries which will be presented to the Heads of state during the summit.

Leaders at the summit will discuss progress in implementation of the projects that are at the forefront to improve the member nations and its people’s relationships as well as trade.

So far the NCIP has made major achievements in a number of projects in the initiative such as Standard Gauge Railway that will link Mombasa to Rwanda, through Uganda stretch between Nairobi and Mombasa set for completion by June 2016.

In the ICT sector, achievement has already been realized with the establishment of the One Network Area (ONA) is another achievement in the ICT sector that has resulted in cheaper roaming charges since July 2015.

Further, people have begun feeling the impact of NCIP with the Single Customs Territory that has allowed movement in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya using national identity cards, one visa regime for tourists, consistent fees for university education, and no-employment permits in Kenya and Rwanda.

Article by Shillah Mwadosho.