By Bida Elly David
East African Community (EAC) has sworn in its new Secretary General, Veronica Mueni Nduva, making her the first woman to assume this role.
Nduva, who hails from the Republic of Kenya, was confirmed in the position on Friday. She is the first female to lead the EAC Secretariat, which has traditionally been headed by men.
The swearing-in ceremony was virtually attended by the heads of state of the EAC member countries, who expressed their confidence in Nduva’s ability to steer the regional bloc forward.
In her address, Nduva expressed her deep gratitude for the trust placed in her, saying, “I am humbled by the confidence you have placed in me to serve our great community.”
“I commit to uphold these values. Your Excellences, my tenure will be dedicated to fostering deeper integration and promoting development for all our people,’’ Veronica said,
Nduva praised the collective vision and commitment of the EAC leaders, stating that their dedication to regional integration has been instrumental in guiding the community to its current position.
She vowed to uphold the values of the EAC and work towards fostering deeper integration and promoting development for all the people of the region.
Her key priorities include strengthening the EAC economy through innovation and entrepreneurship, improving security among member countries, and enhancing social development with a focus on empowering women and youth.
Nduva also highlighted her commitment to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, promoting green energy, sustainable agriculture, and resource mobilization as a bloc.
Furthermore, she pledged to enhance the institutional strength of the EAC through effective implementation of policies and programs, and to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness within the EAC Secretariat.
“We will engage with all stakeholders and ensure that our policies and programs to reflect the aspirations of our people. I conclude I wish to acknowledge the outstanding work of my predecessors and the dedicated staff of the East African Community,” she concluded.