NAIROBI —Kenya has ratified the revised Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Treaty, becoming the fourth member state to back the new agreement aimed at deepening cooperation across East Africa.
The move was welcomed by IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, who described it as “a commendable step” towards a more united and resilient region.
Speaking from the bloc’s headquarters in Djibouti, Dr. Workneh thanked both Kenya’s Parliament and its people for “their continued faith in multilateralism and regional solidarity.”
“This ratification strengthens our foundation as an institution,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. “It gives us the legal clarity and collective authority to respond better to the cross-border challenges our region faces be it conflict, climate shocks, or economic upheaval.”
The treaty, last updated to reflect IGAD’s expanded role, sets a new path for member states to work more closely on issues including peacebuilding, food security, digital policy, and health.
Kenya now joins Djibouti, Ethiopia, and South Sudan in ratifying the revised treaty. The remaining IGAD members Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda are still in the process of domestic approval.
IGAD, which was formed in 1996 to succeed the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development, has gradually broadened its scope. Once focused mainly on environmental crises, it now plays a more prominent role in diplomacy, regional security, and economic affairs.
Kenya, long seen as a key voice in the Horn of Africa, has often hosted IGAD-led peace talks, including those on South Sudan and Somalia. Parliament’s approval of the treaty is widely seen as a reaffirmation of that leadership role.
The IGAD Secretariat said it would work closely with all member states to ensure the treaty is fully implemented.
Dr. Workneh called on the rest of the bloc to complete their ratification “in the spirit of unity and shared purpose.”
Observers say the treaty’s real test will lie in how it is enacted. With armed conflict ongoing in parts of Sudan and Somalia, and climate change wreaking havoc on agriculture and livelihoods, IGAD’s ability to deliver meaningful coordination is under scrutiny.
Still, the political signal from Nairobi is clear. Kenya wants a stronger IGAD, and it’s ready to help build it.
