A critical analysis of the regionally coordinated infrastructural projects in the east African community (2000 - 2015)

Abstract

Infrastructural development is one of the key facilitators of regional economic integration, as it lowers the cost of doing business, facilitates economic growth, and encourages Foreign Direct Investment attraction. The EAC has been considered as one of Africa’s RECs with huge infrastructural ambitions through projects such as the development of the Lamu and Mwambani Corridors, to reduce the stress on the traditional Northern and Central Corridors. The sub-region also currently has the highest number of regionally coordinated infrastructural projects that are being implemented on the continent, in its five corridors. It has also completed the construction of its Arusha – Namanga – Athi River Road Project which links its traditional corridors with a considerable number of instant benefits. This study is a critical analysis of the EAC coordinated infrastructural projects. Its objectives include the interrogation of the various EAC coordinated infrastructural projects, assessment of the implementation of these infrastructural projects, and the investigation of the challenges facing infrastructural development in the EAC. In addition, it examines the funding dynamics of these projects and the impacts of the already completed projects. The study argues that: the identification of the EAC coordinated infrastructural projects has facilitated donor financing of such projects; the implementation of the regional infrastructural projects has recorded measurable progress; and that inadequate funding is a key challenge facing infrastructural development in the EAC. This study is based on the Modernization Theory of Development. It adopted a qualitative research methodology using both primary and secondary data. The researcher used interview guide to collect data from 25 key respondents. Secondary data were analyzed using content analysis.