East African heads of state are convening today for the 23rd extraordinary meeting.
The virtual meeting to be chaired by South Sudan President Salva Kiir will see the heads consider three key issues including the proposed appointment of Veronica Nduva as the new Secretary General.
President William Ruto nominated Nduva for the position to replace Peter Mathuki who has taken up his role as Kenya’s ambassador to Russia.
Mathuki joined the body on April 23, 2021, as the second Kenyan to hold the post since Francis Muthaura from March 14, 1996 to April 24, 2001.
The SG is not only the head of the secretariat which is the executive organ of the bloc but also the accounting officer.
Nduva replaced Caroline Mwende Mueke who had initially been nominated by the head of state for the post.
The changes were revealed through a letter dated April 15 and penned by Cabinet Secretary for EAC Peninah Malonza.
"Further to our letter Ref No EAC 4/CONF./2/ Vol. 21(57) of March 15, 2024, informing of a Presidential Action nominating Ms Caroline Mwende Mueke for appointment as the new Secretary General by the Summit, in accordance with Article 67 (1) of the EAC Treaty; we write to inform you the President of the Republic of Kenya has varied the nomination of Ms Mueke to the position of the EAC Secretary General," the letter reads in part.
Also to be considered during today’s meet is the proposed appointment of a Judge to the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice from Kenya and the review of the report on partner states’ relations.
Justice Zablon Muruka Mokua will also be appointed to the First Instance Division on the same day.
Mokua will replace Charles Nyachae who resigned early this year.
The 22nd extraordinary meeting was held on September 5 in Nairobi where top on the agenda were the operational milestones achieved by the EAC regional force which had been deployed to DR Congo.
The regional bloc currently has eight members following the admission of Somalia in November last year.
It became a full member of March 4, this year.
