Shock as EAC boss picked Kenya's envoy to Russia

Arusha. Disbelief engulfed the headquarters of the East African Community (EAC) Friday afternoon following reports that its boss may exit soon.

Dr Peter Mathuki (a Kenyan national) has, according to the Kenyan press, been nominated as Kenya's ambassador to Russia by President William Ruto.

Should his appointment be confirmed, he would be the first secretary-general (SG) to exit the post before the end of his five-year tenure.

Dr Mathuki was appointed the EAC boss on February 27, 2021, during the first Heads of State Summit held virtually due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

The SG is not only the head of the EAC secretariat, the executive organ of the community, but also the chief accounting officer of the regional body. 

He is also the secretary to the Summit of Heads of State and an ex-officio member of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala). 

The EAC Treaty shows that the SG is appointed by a summit of heads of state to serve the community for a non-renewable period of five years. 

The recent official engagement with Dr Mathuki before his nomination was announced by President Ruto's State House was at the ongoing sitting of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) taking place in Nairobi. 

The regional assembly was debating the expenditure of $6 million that has allegedly been spent but has not gone through mandatory appropriation in the House. 

Dr Mathuki has worked in various East African institutions before being nominated as the EAC boss—and later approved—during Uhuru Kenyatta's presidency.

He was picked as the EAC boss when he was the executive director of the East African Business Council (EABC), a regional business chamber with observer status to the EAC.

But it was during his five-year (2012–2017) tenure as an Eala member that Dr Mathuki gained more visibility into regional issues. 

At one time, he was the chairperson of the powerful Eala Committee on Legal, Rules, and Privileges, which spearheaded the impeachment of the then Eala Speaker, Ms Margaret Ssentongo Zziwa (2012–2014).

Before becoming a regional lawmaker, he briefly worked on a project under the East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC), which is based in Arusha.

His ambassadorial nomination comes nearly three years after he took the reins of leadership at the regional bloc’s secretariat, replacing Burundi’s Liberat Mfumukeko.

According to the EAC protocol, the eligible head of state nominates a candidate, who is then approved by the Summit of Heads of State. 

The post is usually rotated among member states, and the occupants serve for five years.

Reports from Nairobi say the Kenyan government has proposed Caroline Mwende Mueke to replace Dr Mathuki for the remaining two years of service at the EAC.

The public policy expert has worked in various agencies and missions of the United Nations, including Unesco, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.

Her appointment will have to be approved by the heads of state at an EAC summit. Dr Mathuki is the second Kenyan to occupy the SG’s seat after Francis Muthaura (1996–2001).

Other EAC SGs were Nuwe Amanya Mushega (2001–2006), Juma Mwapachu (2006–2011), Richard Sezibera (2011–2016), and Liberat Mfumukeko (2016–2021).

Dr Mathuki's nomination as ambassador comes at a time of possible impeachment over alleged misappropriation of funds at the secretariat.

The matter arose during the debate on President Ruto's speech, delivered on Wednesday this week during the inaugural session of Eala in Nairobi.

Reports quoted on The East African website cited concerns regarding the expenditure of over $6 million without the approval of the regional parliament.

The matter was raised by an Eala member from Uganda, Dennis Namara, who is also the chairperson of the finance sub-committee.

He said failure to seek approval of the House on the said expenditure was a flagrant violation of the financial rules governing the Treaty establishing the EAC.

Reports on the East African website further said Dr Mathuki was present at the assembly but did not address the allegations against him.