KYANKWANZI — The Secretary General of Kenya’s ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Hassan Omar Hassan, has called for the urgent unification of Africa, urging leaders across the continent to embrace deeper regional integration as a pathway to prosperity and global influence.
Hassan made the remarks during the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders’ retreat at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi, where he addressed newly elected Members of Parliament and senior party officials.
In a passionate and wide-ranging presentation, Hassan emphasized that Africa’s future lies in unity, warning that fragmentation continues to weaken the continent’s economic and political potential.
“We are separated by artificial borders,” he said. “Africa must rise above this fragmentation and build a united front that allows our people to move, trade and thrive freely across the continent.”
He particularly highlighted the need to fast-track East African integration, expressing optimism about the realization of a political federation that would bring together countries in the region under a shared vision.
“I want us to be East Africans first,” Hassan said. “Kenyans, Ugandans and others in the region are already one people. In our lifetime, we must see the actualisation of the East African Political Federation.”
The UDA Secretary General praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his longstanding advocacy of regional integration, describing him as a consistent voice on the strategic importance of unity for Africa’s survival and transformation.
He also commended the NRM for fostering ideological clarity and leadership development through institutions such as Kyankwanzi, which he described as a vital centre for shaping committed Pan-African leaders.
Hassan noted that Africa possesses immense potential, including a youthful population, abundant natural resources and a growing market of over 1.4 billion people. However, he said these advantages can only be fully realized through coordinated policies and shared economic frameworks.
He urged leaders to accelerate the implementation of key continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, strengthen regional value chains and remove barriers to intra-African trade.
“A united Africa is stronger, more resilient and better positioned to negotiate on the global stage,” he said.
Hassan further called on young leaders to embrace bold and visionary leadership, stressing that the responsibility to complete Africa’s integration agenda rests with the current generation.
“History is calling upon us to rise above narrow interests and pursue collective prosperity,” he said. “Let us choose unity over fragmentation, integration over isolation, and Africa over dependency.”
His remarks resonated strongly with participants at the retreat, reinforcing the NRM’s commitment to regional cooperation and Pan-African ideals.