President Kenyatta Presides Over the 18th Session of East African Community Leaders

President Kenyatta Presides Over the 18th Session of East African Community Leaders. /PHOTO: TWITTER

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who chaired the 18th East African Community Leadership Summit on Wednesday, reiterated the importance of regional integration, saying the bloc provided a solid platform for social and economic reform in the region.

Speaking during an online conference, President Kenyatta reiterated the session's commitment to the East African integration process.

President Uhuru Kenyatta. /PHOTO: TWITTER

In his inaugural address, the President said the regional community is an important tool for economic and prosperous development for the people of East Africa.

Expressing his satisfaction with the achievements made in greater cohesion and efficient supply in the region, President Kenyatta urged all member states to continue to give priority to the East African Community agenda.

The session also discussed the Democratic Republic of Congo's request to join the East African Community and instructed the bloc's cabinet to expedite an inspection visit to Congo and report to the 22nd session of the bloc to be held next year.

The online conference was attended by the presidents of Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania while Burundi and South Sudan were represented by high-ranking government officials.

In their speeches, Presidents Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame and Suluhu Hassan, thanked President Kenyatta for organizing the summit and welcomed the intention of the Democratic Republic of Congo to join the Community.