In 1998, the Government of Kenya established the Ministry of East African and Regional Cooperation to coordinate the affairs of the EAC, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In 1999, the EAC Affairs functions were transferred to a department within the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry and later in 2003, as a department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2004 the Ministry of East African Community and Regional Cooperation was established and later renamed the Ministry of East African Community (MEAC) in 2006. In 2013, following the reorganization of government in line with the 2010 Constitution, the EAC functions were placed under the State Department for East African Affairs (SDEAA) within the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism.

The Department was later renamed the State Department for East African Community Integration (SDEACI) in 2016 under the Ministry of East African Community, Labour and Social Protection. Following the re-organization of the Government in June, 2018, the Ministry of East African Community and Regional Development was created. The creation of the Ministry was also in line with the Treaty for establishment of EAC and Directives of the EAC Heads of State Summit. Pursuant to the Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, the Ministry was renamed to East African Community (EAC), the ASALs and Regional Development comprising of two State Departments namely:

1. The State Department for East African Community
2. The State Department for the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development

The mandate of the Ministry, focuses on coordinating Kenya’s engagement in the EAC integration, Northern Corridor Development programmes as well as coordination of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development. This involves working closely with the Ministries, Counties, Departments and Agencies (MCDAs); Private Sector; civil society; and engagement with Kenyan Citizenry, EAC Organs and Institutions and the other Partner States. 

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

The State Department for East African Community Integration is charged with the responsibility of coordinating and implementing policies, strategies and programmes aimed at deepening regional integration. It formulates policy on East African Community, coordinates Government and private sector participation in the EAC Affairs, coordinates the implementation of the EAC regional programmes, coordinates the implementation of EAC Treaty and promotes and fast tracks EAC integration process.

The State Department aims at strengthening the participation of Kenya in the implementation of the Customs Union, Common Market and Monetary Union protocols within the established timelines. It is also plays the coordination role in laying the foundation for the EAC Political Federation.

The State Department for East African Community is comprised of the following directorates within which the above measures are actualized.

• Directorate of Administration
• Directorate of Economic Affairs
• Directorate of Political Affairs
• Directorate of Productive and Services
• Directorate of Social Affairs
• Research and Liaison
• Northern Corridor Integration Projects