How does a group of countries whose leaderships are mostly tainted by some kind of misgovernance could ever lead to a successful intergovernmental organization that can enhances the political, social and cultural integration of a region like the EAC or improve the quality of life of its people?

Corruption, overstaying in power, coming to power through suspect and mostly ethnic-based movements/parties constitute the prime processes that brought most of the leaders of the region into power. This makes them defensive, vulnerable and weak as they are more concerned with preserving their power instead of working for the people.

The EAC has, miraculously expanded, despite its dysfunctionality, with leaders like Kagame of Rwanda, Museveni of Uganda, and Silva Kiir of South Sudan overstaying in power for longer than they should have been or were originally brought to power for, through sheer manipulation and conflict arousal and other dubious means, or through self-promotional processes.

The other leaders of the community, although coming through elections have also mostly used ethnic-based parties to come to power, which does not pose well for any of their countries. Can one have two hearts – loyalty to the country or loyalty to an ethnic group? No wonder, most leaders of the region remain corrupt, reckless, travel at the expense of the people and lead luxury lives, while the population of the region........

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