ABSTRACT
The East African Community, which encompasses Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzani and Uganda, was established by the East African Community Treaty of 1999. 1 This treaty envisages a close cooperation of the countries in the block on a number of issues including those relating to protection of the people against deprivation and want when they cross the borders of the countries in the region in the course of exercising their freedom of movement. In particular, Chapter 17 of the EAC Treaty provides for free movement of persons, labour, services, right of establishment and residence irrespective of whether such people are workers, retired, orphans or disabled. As such, EAC Partner States are required to guarantee social protection to not only their respective citizens but also nationals of the other EAC countries living in their jurisdictions regardless of their motive for migration such as migration for labour, services or establishment. 2
