This study examines the roles, challenges and prospects of Eastern Africa Standby Forcern(EASF) in the maintenance of peace and security in the Eastern Africa since 2004. Thernstudy employed qualitative methodological approach. Accordingly, data was gatheredrnfrom both primary and secondary sources, in which case empirical data was gatheredrnthrough key informant interviews. Findings of the study show that EASF has limited role inrnmaintaining peace and security in the region. It has not yet been deployed as a regionalrnpeace-keeping force; rather, it has played only some supportive roles to the UnitedrnNations (UN) and African Union (AU) peace support missions. The study identifies thernfollowing major factors that have impeded the role of EASF. These include lack of properrnorganization that embraces all states of the region at the time of EASFâ€™s establishment, thernhegemonic competition between Ethiopia and Kenya, the prevalence of several interstaternand intrastate conflicts in the region, duplication of regional organizations working on thernsame area having overlapping membership and competition over funds, absence of strongrnlegal basis that obliges member statesâ€™ contribution of troops and equipments, lack ofrnadequate finance, and cultural diversity. Notwithstanding those challenges, EASF has arngood future prospect as can be observed from its current activities. The organization hasrnbeen conducting pre-deployment joint trainings, field exercises, and participating in thernregional maritime trainings to maintain maritime security. For more successful futurernoperation of the force, however, the study suggests cooperation among member states,rndeveloping unfettered commitment of member states to contribute force, finance andrnlogistics as well as standardizing training and doctrines so as to create effectivernmultinational forces