By John Oyuke

The signing of the long-awaited East African Community (EAC) common market protocol after intense haggling marks a giant leap towards full integration of the region.

The protocol, which comes into force next July would not only usher in free movement of goods between EAC states but also free movement of capital and labour.

Investors will now set their sights on serving a larger market comprising over 100 million people within the partner states of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

The five EAC heads of state signed the protocol during their summit in Arusha, Tanzania on Friday.

But, even as the region tackles this turning point in the integration process, not everybody is excited about the speed at which benefits are being delivered to the ordinary EAC citizens.

A consultant, Dr Regina Karega says while a lot has been done to process the integration, several measures still need be in place to ensure standards are applied across all EAC partner states within stipulated timelines.

She said standards for the border checks should be developed, and systematically applied, to enable uniform service provision.

Karega who is also Chairperson of Kenya’s National Commission on Gender and Development spoke while releasing a study report at an EAC forum in Arusha, Tanzania.

The study commissioned by EAC Secretariat establishes perceptions, concerns and experiences of ordinary citizens in relation to the regional integration process.

It found out that while ordinary citizens agree the process has provided a good environment for business at the borders, challenges still exist. These included slow verification of documents at all points, high taxes and harassment by custom officials.

They were able to identify a number of issues that need to be sorted out to smoothen the process of integration and benefit all in the region.

Out of a long list, Karega said in the report titled: "Benefits Experienced By Ordinary Citizens from the East African Community Regional Integration," at least five key ones stand out.

These include: improving the way business is done by looking at the customs clearance procedures, introducing one currency, enhancing service provision at border points through a 24-hour working system and offering clearing services for big vehicles fast and reducing duration of verifying documents.

Others are: the need to actualise freedom of movement of goods by removing any border restrictions, accepting the use a common identification document and ensuring the same standards for document verification are adopted. The EAC partners states must also deal with taxation and non-tariff barriers by ensuring they are standardised.

The survey stresses the need to address issues of discrimination especially of the big vehicles. It says Tanzania should stop discriminating business opportunities for other member states and allow freedom of movement of goods and persons.

Although these five strategic issues were mentioned by the respondents, the Survey adds, it was increasingly noted that there is need to address issues of health and HIV/Aids in relation to the well-being of ordinary citizens travelling across borders by road.

The study recommended among others the need to strengthen capacity of government officers starting with immigration from the Partner States.

Also required is a framework of fast communication to the governments and citizens on changes that need to be effected as the integration gathers pace and the progress.

"There is an urgent need to address the way business is conducted in the region. This is because economic growth is a driver of the success of the regional integration," the report said in part.

Karega observed that the integration process has a lot of good will from the ordinary citizens which calls for their involvement.