Kirimi, Kelvin Joseph2025-07-232025-07-232025-01https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/30761A Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy in the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences of Kenyatta University, January 2025. Supervisor Xavier IchaniProspect for common market in East Africa has been slow despite push by individual member states. This study examined Kenya's efforts to promote the Common Market Protocol among East African Community (EAC) member states, with a specific focus on infrastructure, free trade agreements, and open border policies. The scope of the study included Kenya's role in fostering regional integration through investments in transport and communication infrastructure, support for free trade agreements, and the implementation of open border policies. Grounded in the Theory of Hegemonic Stability, the study posited that Kenya's regional dominance plays a pivotal role in advancing economic integration in the EAC. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed, targeting officials from Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Department of EAC Integration, and embassies from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Sudan, and Uganda. A census sampling technique yielded 101 respondents, with data collected through semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides. The instruments' reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha, while validity was confirmed through content and face validity tests. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential methods, with findings presented in tables and graphs, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings highlighted Kenya's critical role in enhancing regional trade and integration by investing in infrastructure, promoting free trade agreements, and adopting open border policies. These efforts were found to positively influence the realization of the Common Market Protocol. The study’s significance lies in its contribution to understanding Kenya's role in regional integration, providing valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders involved in EAC integration efforts. Limitations included potential respondent bias and the challenges of generalizing findings beyond the study's targeted population. The study recommended continued infrastructural investment, bridging development gaps through collaborative efforts, and aligning infrastructure planning with the broader Common Market objectives. Policymakers were encouraged to emphasize policy coherence, transportation and communication improvements, and political stability to enhance the successful implementation of free trade agreements and economic integration in East Africa. These findings underscore Kenya's pivotal role in driving the EAC integration agenda and offer a reference point for future research and policy formulation.enThesis