Institutional balance in the East African Community

Abstract

The East African Community faces several challenges, including poor governance, an inadequate legal and institutional framework, and poor public participation. A major cause of this predicament are institutional imbalances, brought about by an institutional design that vests most powers in the Summit and the Council (the executive organs of the Community). This leaves the Legislative Assembly, a so-called representative of the public voice, with limited control over acts of the Community. The outcome has been a lack of understanding, support and ownership of the integration process by the subjects whose integration is sought. It is therefore important to examine the institutional interventions needed to create a balance of powers between the executive and legislative organs of the Community in order to ensure effective integration.