President William Ruto has appointed five cabinet secretaries as members of the Economic Partnership Agreement EPA Council between Kenya, a member of the East African Community and the European Union.
The members include Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya who will co-chair of the council.
Others include National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja, and Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale.
The council is the highest decision-making organ of the EPA tasked to manage implementation of the agreement. The roles include establishment of various organs of the EPA, including implementation systems for trade facilitation, dispute resolution and sustainable development.
The council will further ensure that all measures to advance two-way trade and investments are implemented. The negotiations include adherence to trade in goods provisions, strengthening supply chain relationships, fostering innovations in trade finance, and advancing trade in green goods and services. The European Commission in Brussels is also expected to appoint the other co-chair of the trade agreement and its members.
The EPA, which guarantees Kenyan exporters tariff free access to the 27 country, €13 trillion EU market, was signed in December 2023 in a Nairobi ceremony witnessed by President Ruto and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The agreement was also ratified by Kenya’s National Assembly and the European Parliament.
