The East African Community (EAC) is finalizing arrangements to form a regional political parties’ platform.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation), Beatrice Kiraso, yesterday said that the meeting will bring together political parties from the five EA partner states.

"After concluding national sensitization workshops for political parties, we are finalizing arrangements to convene a forum of all political parties,” Kiraso said.

She noted that the forum will enable regional political parties identify their counterparts with ideological semblance and vision beyond national territories.

It is estimated that there are 156 registered political parties within the bloc.

The forum, Kiraso added, would assist the parties to kick-start preparations for the eventual EA Political Federation; the ultimate goal of the EAC integration.

However, Kiraso has cautioned that a Political Federation is not an overnight exercise, but a process that would go through vigorous discussions and debates with all—politicians, academics, legislators and other stakeholders.

"This is not a one-day event. It is vigorous and thorough process and must be fully agreed by all in the partner states,’’ she stressed.

In the recent years, a number of activities in political integration have been initiated by the EAC, including foreign policy, governance, defence and security matters aimed at harmonising policies and practices to the agreed EAC standards.

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