The East African Community (EAC) has of late been dogged by alleged cash crunch with some of its officials claiming that all member countries are behind payment of their dues and putting unnecessary financial strain on the body.

Most regional and international bodies face similar obstacles; some countries are buried by membership arrears. But what makes the EAC issue unique is that it does not only depend on members’ fees for survival.

It is surprising and embarrassing that o f the $124 million budget for the 2014/2015, member states contributed only $41.9 million, the rest was from donors. That is a very tricky situation and the earlier the EAC gets weaned off dependency on the goodwill of others the better.

How does the EAC gain its independence credentials when it survives on handouts? It should instead be ashamed that in this day and age, it is still holding out the begging bowl to cater for two-thirds of its budget.

How long will the donor community’s goodwill last. Talks have been dragging on in the EAC’s corridors for years of coming up with sustainable funding mechanism, and they remain just that; empty words.

As long as the EAC member states don’t realise that their own destiny lies in their hands, they should expect nothing less than disdain from their financiers who will not hesitate to use that financial leverage to their advantage.

This coming year should not be wasted by petty squabbles that characterized the EAC in its last term, but it should seriously think of getting its priorities right and end its beggar’s mentality