Nairobi, March 18 -- Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania after independence founded the East African Community, killed it, and then revived it. Since the return of the EAC, there have been many ups and downs even as the bloc expanded to its membership current eight.

In the past year, Kenyan President William Ruto has seemed to be a part of those ups and downs in the bloc, or their direct cause, which is why his Thursday trip to Zanzibar, where he met with the host Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, was significant.

The three leaders met in an unannounced meeting and the agenda largely vague.

Tanzania's State House said the trio's talks touched on issues to do with East African integration, especially around the need to fast-track...