| dc.description.abstract | This work investigates the role of the Kenya private sector as a non-state actor in the East African regional integration process. The assumption is that
having recognized the private sector as crucial in the process, and clearly declaring so in the Treaty for the establishment of the East African
Community, each of the Community's partner states namely, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania would clearly provide for, and facilitate private
sector participation in the process. Secondly, recognition of the sector by the member states as crucial implied assumption that it indeed has a role to play.
The study therefore, examines and analyzes the nexus between success in regional integration and private sector participation, starting by determining
the extent to which the East African Community member states, and Kenya in particular has facilitated the sector's participation, and the extent to which the
sector has influenced Kenya's foreign policy decisions on the process.
Findings are that the Kenya government has involved only a part of the private sector through the sector's representative and apex bodies without a clear
policy or legal framework defining the sector and the nature of involvement. Although the integration process has recorded success in achieving some of
the agreed milestones like the Customs Union and Common Market with minimal involvement of the sector, the sector has potential in strengthening the
efforts towards success. It is concluded that success will be determined by the state taking the lead, but involving the private sector and other relevant non-
state actors more than it has hitherto done. It is recommended that Kenya and the other EAC member states should come up with a policy and legal framework for private sector participation. Further research is also recommended to determine whether East African states' sovereignties hinder or enhance the region's integration interests. | en_US |
