Trade and Employment, key EAC topics amongst university students

By Elisha Kamau

Trade and employment are some of the key topical subjects that university students are keen to benefit from the Ministry of East Africa Community Integration process.

This is according to analysis from Connect Vuka Border EAC Inter-University Social Media Campaign that mostly used Facebook to create awareness around the benefits and opportunities presented by the EAC.

Through the EAC Facebook page- Connect Vuka Border and Twitter handle @cvukaborder, there were 552 posts (29%) on trade and 493 posts  (26%) on employment and job opportunities in just three months (September – November 2012).

“There are lots of benefits and opportunities that Kenyans can gain from EAC Integration if well explored. The Common Market Protocol outlines four freedoms - free movement of goods, labor, services and capital. This will significantly boost trade and investments and make the East Africa region more productive and prosperous,” says Mr. Chiboli Shakaba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the East African Community.

University students are keen to trade across the Kenyan borders, set up and see their business   thrive in other East Africa Partner States upon completion of their undergraduate studies.

Raphael Mbatha, a fourth year student and EAC ambassador from Egerton University notes that most students result to setting up small businesses right after undergraduate studies. They opt to travel to neighboring E.A countries to purchase goods and sell in Kenya hence making some profit. All this is brought about by the looming unemployment rate in Kenya especially after completion of university studies.

“People have discovered that the only way to move forward is through setting up a business. The East African Community presents a good platform for students to harness these opportunities and work in other East African Countries. Rwanda for instance takes many of our graduates to work in their country,” Titus Kisangau, third year student at Moi University.

Through the EAC Inter-University Social Media Campaign Facebook page, students discussed and shared information on the benefits and opportunities presented by the EAC.

Connect Vuka Border EAC Inter-University Social Media Campaign is an initiative of the Ministry of the East African Community funded by TradeMark East Africa that is geared around: creating knowledge and awareness of the EAC Integration, its benefits and opportunities: encouraging students to support the EAC integration process and challenging university them to petition their respective universities to include the EAC Week as an annual calendar activity.

Senior Program Manager at TradeMark East Africa, Mr Joshua Mutunga notes that there is a lot to tap from the EAC integration and encourages the youth to embrace regional development.