Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria has hinted that in
the near future National Identity Cards (IDs) will be used as a through pass within the
East Africa countries to ease trade in the region.
Kuria explained that this idea came about after realizing that some traders within the
East Africa region are not able to afford passports, thus limiting them from exposing
their businesses to other countries.
Kuria added that the IDs will also enhance social integration among the people of East
Africa. Speaking during a coordination meeting held by the African Union (AU)
Commission and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Kuria said that the main
aim of the meeting was to set strategies which the Committee can use to improve the
intra-African trade, from thirteen percent to fifty percent.
He also mentioned that they are planning to come up with a direct airline to ease the
movement within the African continent, stating that the direct airline will enable
passengers to travel directly to a particular country without having to stop over in a
different state to connect their flights to reach their destinations.
EAC Secretary General, Dr. Peter Mathuki, added that it is the responsibility of the EAC
to ensure that peace prevails in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and that they
are working on developing a common currency which will enable the member states to
trade among themselves easily.
