OPINION AND ANALYSIS
President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame during the East African Business Summit in Kigali two weeks ago. Political and economic relationship between Kenya and Rwanda has re-energised the EAC bloc. PHOTO | FILE
By HEZRON MUGO KARANJA
IN SUMMARY
- The economic ties between Nairobi and Kigali have had an impact on the strategic and geopolitical interests of both nations and further re-energised the East African Community.
The recently concluded East African Business Summit in Kigali, was highlighted by the presence of both President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame.
Over the past decade, the relationship between Kenya and Rwanda has improved tremendously. The economic ties between Nairobi and Kigali have had an impact on the strategic and geopolitical interests of both nations and further re-energised the East African Community.Also present were regional heads of various organisations in the business and political arena.
There are few countries that have re-invented themselves as is the case with Rwanda. The nation experienced genocide in 1994 and the aftermath was an even bigger challenge.
Its economy was brought to a halt. Infrastructure, medical services, education, banking and even free movement of people, goods and services were hindered in one way or the other.
The aggressive policies that followed from 1995 onwards have been bearing fruit in recent years not only for Rwanda but across the region.
The country now has great infrastructure. In East Africa, Rwanda has been named the easiest place to start a new business devoid of unnecessary bureaucracy.
To put into perspective, Bosnia experienced similar genocide which ended in 1995. The reconstruction of Bosnia has been ongoing, but not at the same pace as Rwanda.
Bosnia is still writhing from the effects of the genocide, reconstructing damaged buildings and shuttered infrastructure to date. Therefore, Rwanda should be commended for getting back on its feet and fast-tracking economic growth.
It comes as no wonder that the intense co-operation between Kenya and Rwanda came at a good time.
When former President Mwai Kibaki and President Kagame came together to create this mutual agreement over a decade ago, there were very many favourable circumstances that increased the chances of success. For instance, Rwanda needed doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers and other professionals for a speedy economic recovery.
Kenya, on the other hand, had all these professionals ready to deploy to Kigali. The reciprocity exhibited by these agreements was mutually helpful and it continues to this day.
Like President Kagame said at the just concluded summit, “Kenyans were not coming to take jobs held by Rwandans, they were filling jobs that were crucial to the well being of our country, jobs that just happened to be vacant”.
Over the past one-and-a-half years of President Uhuru’s administration, changes to these agreements have been fine-tuned to accommodate even more mutually advantageous propositions.
The overall movement of goods, services and people has been made easier. Gone are the days of duty, tariffs, dues, value added tax, visas and passports.
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