Arusha, Tanzania — June 23, 2025 —The Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs for the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, presented the EAC Budget Speech for FY 2025/2026 at a Virtual Plenary Sitting of the 3rd Session of the 5th Assembly. This follows the EAC Budget Estimates earlier tabled amounting to 109,338,151 million USD for FY 2025/2026 which are currently under consideration before the general Purpose (GP) Committee of the Assembly. While delivering the Budget Speech, the Chair Council implored upon the House to debate and approve the Budget whose theme is: “Inclusive Economic Transformation through Domestic Resource Mobilization and Resilient strategic Investment for Job Creation and Improved Livelihoods”.
The Chair Council presented an overview of the region’s economic performance outlook; review of the EAC programme performance for F/Y 2024/2025 and outlined priorities for the F/Y 2025/2026; and the Audit for the Financial year 2023/2024.
The Chairperson observed that, despite ongoing global challenges which include but not limited to geopolitical tensions, climate change, and shifting international aid; EAC economies continued to demonstrate resilience achieving a growth rate of 5.5% in 20 outpacing both “the global average of 3.3% and the Sub-Sahara Africa growth rate of 4%. She posited that “the outlook for 2025 is even brighter, with projected growth rate of 5.8%, mainly due to robust performance in sectors such agriculture, construction, and service sectors, supported by sound policies and macroeconomic stability.
The proposed budget by the Council for the FY2025/2026 will be financed through Partner States’ contributions of 62% (USD 67.76 million) and development partners’ contributions of 38% (USD 41.58 million).
The Minister outlined key priorities for FY2025/2026 to mainly focus on strengthening and enhancing regional peace, security, and political stability; enhancing intra-trade and investment through enabling business environment; strengthening Regional Commitments under the EAC common Market protocol; and establishment of requisite institutions and acceleration of harmonization of fiscal and monetary policies towards attaining prerequisites of the East African Monetary Union. The budget also focused on the development of the multi-sectoral infrastructure to improve connectivity in transport and ICT for timely services; enhancement of the social and productive sectors to increase productivity and raise the standards of living for East Africans; and enhancement of capabilities of all EAC organs and Institutions to fulfill their mandates and raise awareness of the EAC integration process.
In her concluding remarks, the Chairperson Council stressed the need for all EAC member states and stakeholders to utilize available resources efficiently to realize these regional goals. The EAC remains committed to positioning the region as a resilient, integrated, and prosperous economic bloc in Africa, harnessing regional opportunities to improve the livelihoods of all East Africans.
On his part and on behalf of the House, the Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, The Speaker of EALA, stated that the Assembly would prioritize all Council Business related to the processing of budget including the Supplementary Estimates for the FY 2024/2025 during the ongoing plenary.
The Speaker adjourned the sitting to Saturday 28 June 2025 at 2.30pm.
-End-
Nicodemus Ajak Bior
Senior Public Relations officer (SPRO)
East African Legislative Assembly,
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-768-885-633/ +254 729-157-207
Email: nbior@eachq.org
www.eala.org
