RULE OF LAW IN EAST AFRICA-CHALLENGES

Abstract

The East African Community (EAC) comprises of the following Countries Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. For a country to be admitted to the EAC, it must subscribe to the universal principles of good governance,democracy, and the rule of law. This paper outlines the definition of the rule of law and the elements of the rule of law. It also seeks to highlight the factors undermining the implementation of the rule of Law across the EAC. The term ‘rule of law has attracted different meanings and corollaries, however, for purposes of this paper, a definition that encapsulates the primacy, gist and spirit of the rule of law is “a set of principles, or ideas, for ensuring an orderly and just society.” The paper concludes that despite the entrenchment of the concept of the rule of law in the Constitutions of most East African Countries less has been done to promote its implementation. This paper explores some of the legal, ethical and practical challenges facing the implementation of the rule of law in East African Countries.