BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The East African Community members of the Finance and Administration Committee have hailed the Lake Victoria Basin Commission for the progress made on the construction of its new headquarters.
Led by Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for infrastructure, productive, social, and political sectors, the committee commended the LVBC for its advancements in the construction of the new headquarters.
Ariik praised the commission for the progress made in constructing the state-of-the-art LVBC headquarters, which is approaching completion.
Currently, the overall progress of the building stands at 70%, with external works at 68%. Electrical installations are at 62%, while mechanical installations are at 68%.
The central core is currently at 35% completion, and external works are 68% finished.
The second phase of construction began on August 7, 2023, following the official handover to a new contractor on July 25.
This phase, expected to cost approximately USD $2,560,718.68, is fully funded by the East African Community Partner States.
Ariik stated: “I am pleased with the progress so far and commend the leadership of LVBC, led by Executive Secretary Dr. Masinde Bwire, for working tirelessly towards the realization of this project. This project will be a milestone not only for LVBC but for the entire East African Community, as it has been fully funded by the partner states.”
The new headquarters, overseen by the State Department of Public Works under Kenya’s Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, will house various departments responsible for managing projects of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission.
It is being built on a 2.8-acre site along the shores of Lake Victoria, which was donated by the government in 2016.
Once completed, the headquarters will enhance regional integration by streamlining and coordinating the commission’s activities across the Great Lakes region.
Additionally, Ariik participated in the opening session of the four-day extraordinary meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee that commenced in Kisumu today.
The objective of the meeting is to consider finance and administration issues of various organs and institutions of the East African community.
Delegates from various partner states within the EAC region attended the meeting.
