Potential for Regional Development Through Harmonising Land-Related Policies Across East Africa

The East African Community (EAC) is a region endowed with vast land resources that have the potential to drive economic, social, and environmental development. However, the lack of harmonised land-related policies among EAC member states has hindered the effective utilisation of these resources for regional development and the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) investment protocol. Through a desk review and qualitative content analysis, the study identifies significant gaps in land-related issues that hinder regional economic development. The findings reveal that land is a constitutional issue in all EAC member states, with policies varying in their objectives. Land Acts and other legal land-related documents do not consider EAC citizens as co-citizens in land access and use, as implementing EAC and AfCFTA protocols is challenging. The study concludes that harmonising land-related policies across the EAC is crucial. It will facilitate the implementation of various protocols and agendas, and promote the free movement of people, labour, goods, services, and capital.