President William Ruto has been elected chair of the East African Community (EAC), taking over from his South Sudan counterpart, Salva Kiir.

He is set to hold the position for one year.

In a statement released on Saturday, November 30, the Head of State expressed his gratitude to his counterparts, vowing to work closely with them to advance the region’s interests.

“Allow me to begin by expressing my gratitude to Your Excellencies for entrusting me with the responsibility of chairing our Community for the next year. This is both an honor and a profound duty that I undertake with humility, commitment, and determination,” Ruto said.

Ruto further promised that during his tenure, he would prioritise improving the quality of life for the people of East Africa, focusing on increasing competitiveness, promoting value-added production, and driving investments.

On matters of regional peace, security, political accountability, and good governance, the Head of State noted that they form the foundation of the community’s stability.

Therefore during his time in office, he will aim to strengthen the regional mechanisms that protect sovereignty and collective security while promoting inclusive governance that reflects the aspirations of the people.

Additionally, Ruto expressed his hope to work with members of the Summit to increase intra-EAC trade and investments, boost private sector engagement, and support the participation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving economic transformation.

Thr appointment comes amid the ongoing 24th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State in Arusha, Tanzania.