A Tanzanian diplomat has taken over leadership of the East African Community after regional heads of state appointed Stephen Patrick Mbundi as the bloc’s new Secretary General during their summit in Arusha.
Mbundi assumes the role at a time when partner states are pushing for deeper regional integration and smoother movement of trade and people across the bloc.
Mbundi replaces Kenya’s Veronica Nduva, whose term ends in April after she was appointed to complete Kenya’s remaining tenure following the exit of her predecessor.
She took over the position after Peter Mathuki was removed before completing his term and later deployed as Kenya’s Ambassador to Russia.
Nduva served as Secretary General for about 20 months and remains the only woman to have led the regional organisation in that capacity. She had been tasked with finishing Kenya’s five-year turn in the rotational leadership structure of the bloc.
The appointment and swearing-in of Mbundi took place on Saturday during the 25th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community held in Arusha, Tanzania. He will serve a five-year term running from 2026 to 2031.
Before his appointment, Mbundi served as Permanent Secretary in charge of East African Community Affairs in Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East Africa Cooperation. In that role, he worked closely with several organs and institutions of the regional body as well as development partners and private sector organisations to promote the EAC integration agenda.
He has also held engagements with officials from other partner states, focusing on discussions aimed at addressing barriers affecting the free movement of trade and people across the region.
According to the Tanzanian government, Mbundi has long been involved in matters related to the East African Community and is expected to bring fresh energy to the work of the organisation as it advances its regional agenda.
The position of Secretary General rotates among the EAC partner states under the community’s governance framework.
President William Ruto congratulated Nduva for her leadership of the regional organisation over the past months and welcomed Mbundi to the position.
“As you take up the mantle, we are counting on you to build on the efforts of your predecessors and take the community to the next level.”
During the same summit, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was appointed the new chairman of the bloc, taking over from President Ruto whose one-year term has come to an end.
Somalia’s President had initially been expected to assume the chairmanship. However, the country has not yet domesticated the East African Community treaty, making it ineligible to take up the role at this time.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan was named the rapporteur of the summit.
The meeting also saw the launch of the East Africa Customs Bond as well as the East African Community Seventh Development Strategy covering the period from 2026 to 2031.