This archive report was first published on 6 October 2021.
Published on October 6, 2021, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the East African Business Council (EABC) announced plans to roll out East African Community (EAC) vaccination certificates to support the recovery of the region's economy.
The certificates aim to facilitate easier access to other countries for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) while trading. This initiative was discussed during a National Focal Point Roundtable meeting held at KEPSA offices.
KEPSA Chief Executive Officer Carole Kariuki stated that the vaccination certificate will be handed out to countries in the EAC region by December, subject to approval by the respective governments.
"EABC has direct interaction with EAC so it can take the proposal to the council of ministers and heads of state. However, we are hoping it is something that can be solved by the council of ministers and our timeline is that we hope it is out by December," she added.
According to EABC Executive Director John Kalisa, the common vaccination certificate will be very efficient for traders who have incurred high costs while undergoing COVID-19 testing every now and then.
"We would like to have a common EAC vaccination certificate. So that whoever is traveling across regions does not undergo COVID testing because it is a cost for our business, our tourism sector, and the SMEs," said John Kalisa.
Another recommendation agreed upon was the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to enable businesses to recover and improve regional trade.
The meeting was attended by representatives from all EAC countries, including Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
