The East African Press Councils (EAPC) has urged stronger media integration across the region to enhance communication on regional integration and boost public awareness of the East African Community (EAC) agenda.
Speaking at a high-level engagement between the EAPC and the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania, Victor Bwire, Head of the EAPC Secretariat, emphasised the critical role of a harmonised media landscape in advancing the region’s shared goals. He stressed that cross-border collaboration among media stakeholders is vital for fostering transparency, improving access to information, and engaging citizens in the region’s development journey.
“The future of regional integration hinges on our ability to communicate it effectively to the people. We must break down barriers to the flow of information by empowering the media to tell the East African story as one,” said Mr Bwire.
Mr Bwire, who also serves as Director of Media Training and Development at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), underscored the EAPC’s role as a strategic platform for crafting joint protocols, conducting collaborative research, and coordinating regional media initiatives in alignment with EAC objectives. He called for a unified communication approach to ensure the success of East Africa’s integration process.
He further highlighted the urgency of harmonising media accreditation frameworks across the EAC to facilitate journalist mobility and foster robust cross-border reporting. A standardised accreditation system, he noted, would enable journalists to operate professionally throughout the region — a critical factor in advancing the integration agenda.
“The media has a pivotal role in helping the public understand and seize opportunities within the EAC. We must build an environment where journalists can work seamlessly across borders, upholding professionalism and integrity,” Mr Bwire asserted.
Emphasising the importance of training and mentorship, Mr Bwire called for the development of a well-informed cadre of journalists equipped to report accurately on EAC affairs. He reaffirmed the commitment of the EAPC and MCK to collaborate with regional and continental partners in strengthening journalism through structured capacity-building initiatives.
“Cultivating a network of journalists who can effectively cover the EAC integration process is essential to driving its success. The EAPC remains committed to this objective through targeted training and mentorship programmes,” he said.
EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Andrea Aguer Ariik, welcomed the partnership with the EAPC and reiterated the Secretariat’s dedication to working closely with the media. He acknowledged that timely, accurate information is vital to ensuring public ownership and support for the regional integration agenda.
“Presenting information to the public in a clear, compelling manner is fundamental to realising the vision of the East African Community. This requires a committed corps of journalists who deeply understand the EAC’s mission and can report on it with precision and insight,” said Mr Ariik.
He further noted that the EAC remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that East African citizens are well-informed, actively engaged, and inspired by the Community’s progress.
Key areas of collaboration discussed during the meeting included the upcoming launch of the EAPC Strategic Plan 2023–2026, ongoing joint research on the state of the media across the region, and preparations for the Pan-African and East African Media Summits. The EAPC is also set to unveil a regional media outlook report in November this year.
The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to bolstering regional media cooperation and elevating communication as a cornerstone of East Africa’s integration agenda.
