Influence of National Interest on the Implementation of East Africa Transport Corridors: a Case Study of the Northern Corridor

Abstract

This study aims at finding out how national interest influences implementation of East African Corridor projects taking the Northern Corridor as a case study. It begins from the premise that in situations where state agents pursue a zero sum game in a structured setting with bargaining participants, they will chose the most beneficial option with the least possible harm and will create coalitions that are large enough to ensure they win. It is argued that national interests have undermined implementation of EAC projects where changing political and economic interest have led to alignment and re-alignment of coalitions committed to the Northern Corridor affecting viability and success of the projects. This study concludes that the current framework of project implementation within EAC that leaves each country with the responsibility of building their sections of interstate infrastructure is not working and is instead fuelling political and economic competition. The policy implications of the findings is that the region will have to set up institution to fund, own, and manage regional infrastructure rather than abandon the responsibility to each member state. The region will also have to think about not just infrastructure that excites politicians but whether the projects funded are appropriate and whether the projects will have commensurate economic benefit for the private sector in order to increase in the productive capacity of the regional economy.