Ruto nominates Caroline Mueke as EAC Secretary-General in latest changes

President William Ruto has nominated Caroline Mwende Mueke as Secretary-General of the East African Community (EAC).

Once approved by the EAC Heads of State, Mwende will replace Dr Peter Mathuki who was on Friday nominated as Kenya's new Ambassador to Russia pending vetting and approval by Parliament.

Dr Mathuki's exit from the regional body comes two years ahead of the end of his tenure. He was appointed in 2021 when he replaced Burundi's Liberat Mfumukeko.

Under the principle of rotation among the partner states, the EAC protocols state that the EAC Summit Heads of State appoint the Secretary-General following a nomination by the relevant Head of State.

"The Secretary-General is the principal executive officer of the Community and in this capacity is charged with heading the Secretariat; the Accounting Officer of the Community; sits as the Secretary of the Summit; and carries out such other duties as are conferred upon him by the Treaty or by the Council from time to time. The Secretary General of the Community serves a fixed 5-year term, non-renewable term," EAC notes on its website.

The nomination is in line with the provisions of Article 67 of the EAC treaty.

Article 67 (1) provides that: The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the Summit upon nomination by the relevant Head of State under the principle of rotation.

The four Deputy Secretaries-General deputise and support the Secretary-General in the management and executive direction of the EAC Secretariat. They are appointed by the Summit on recommendations of the Council and on a rotational basis. Each Deputy Secretary-General can serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

The Counsel to the Community is the principal legal adviser to the Community.