BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers has approved additional funding of USD 802,126 for the completion of the new Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Headquarters in Kisumu.
The EAC Secretary General, Veronica Nduva, disclosed that the monies that were approved by the 46th Ordinary Council that met in Arusha, Tanzania from 23rd – 28th November, 2024 will assist LVBC in the necessary works.
The total approved funds for the construction amount to USD 3,540,000. The second phase of construction began in August of last year after the site was handed over to a new contractor at a cost of USD 2,560,718.68.
| Currently, the construction progress stands at 85%, with an estimated 12 weeks remaining until its completion. The new headquarters is being built on a 2.8-acre plot on the shores of Lake Victoria. The land was donated by the government of the Republic of Kenya in 2016. Once completed, the headquarters will house various offices for projects and programmes undertaken by the Commission, featuring state-of-the-art conference facilities and a centre of excellence. During her two-day visit to Kisumu, Nduva inspected the site and commended the LVBC management for spearheading the construction and expressed her satisfaction with the progress so far. “I am pleased with the progress so far, and as a Community, we look forward to its timely completion and commissioning during the tenure of His Excellency President William Ruto, the current Chairperson of the Summit,” said Hon. Nduva. |
The LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr. Masinde Bwire, reaffirmed the management’s commitment to completing the project within the set timelines.
Nduva paid a courtesy call on the Kisumu County Governor, Peter Anyang Nyong’o and Nyanza Regional Commissioner Ms. Flora Mworoa, where they held bilateral discussions on collaboration between the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and both the county and national governments for the implementation of projects and programmes in the region.
| Governor Nyong’o pledged to support the Commission in its initiatives within Kisumu County. Nyong’o agreed to rally the governors from the Lake Region Economic Bloc in supporting the proposed multi-sectoral, multi-phase programme for the Lake Victoria Basin that will be funded by the World Bank at a cost of USD 450 Million. |
| The Lake Victoria Basin Commission is the only institution of the East African Community based in Kenya. It was established in accordance with Article 33 of the Protocol for Sustainable Development of the Lake Victoria Basin in 2003, which is based on Article 114 of the EAC Treaty that was signed in November 1999. Its primary mandate is to coordinate the sustainable development and management of the Lake Victoria Basin in five (5) EAC Partner States, namely: the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania. |
