Arusha, Tanzania – As campaigns for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) heat up, contestant Dr. Tendo Ronex Kisembo has issued a stark reminder to the people of East Africa: proactiveness is not optional — it is critical.
Drawing parallels with successful integration models elsewhere in the world, Dr. Kisembo outlined three types of people in the pursuit of the EAC dream: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.
“Like it is elsewhere, in the EAC integration pursuit, we have those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what’s happening. Proactiveness is critical,” Dr. Kisembo stated.
In a passionate address to stakeholders and supporters, the EALA aspirant emphasized that the future of the regional alliance cannot be left to a passive few. He noted that while there are genuine stakeholders committed to the journey, there are also many observers — and even skeptics — who remain confused about what is unfolding.
“When we talk about the future of our alliance , there are genuine stakeholders, there are observers of this journey, and those who wonder what is going on. Let us work hard — the dream of the alliance concerns us all,” he said.
Ending on a mobilizing note in both Kiswahili and his local dialect, Dr. Kisembo rallied East Africans to action:
“Tunapozungumzia mstakabali wa mtangamano wetu kuna wadau wakweli, kuna watazamaji wa hii safari na wanaoshangaa kinacho endelea. Tutie bidii, ndoto ya mtangamano sote inatuhisu.
Tugolokoke, tufungize, tuve mukulera engalo”.meaning "When we talk about the future of our alliance/coalition , there are genuine stakeholders, there are observers of this journey, and those who wonder what is going on. Let us work hard, the dream of the alliance concerns us all.
Let us wake up, let us unite, let us join hands."
Political analysts say Dr. Kisembo’s message taps into growing frustration among citizens who feel the EAC integration has moved too slowly on key pillars like the Monetary Union and free movement of labor. His call for collective responsibility is seen as an appeal to youth and civil society to demand accountability from their regional leaders.
As the EALA race continues, Dr. Kisembo positions himself as a proactive voice — one determined to move East Africa from spectatorship to shared action.
