East Africa Community says Lake Victoria Basin Commission Building works will now resume after additional funding
The East African Community Council of Ministers has approved additional funding of USD 802,126 for the completion of the new Lake Victoria Basin Commission Headquarters being built in Kisumu, Kenya.
The EAC Secretary General, Veronica Nduva, reveals that the funds were approved by the 46th Ordinary Council that recently sat in Arusha, Tanzania.
The monies will assist Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) in the necessary works.
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission is the only institution of the East African Community based in Kenya.
The institution’s primary mandate is to coordinate the sustainable development and management of the Lake Victoria Basin in five Partner States, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Now the total approved funds for the construction of its headquarters amount to USD 3.54 million.
The second phase of construction began in August 2023 after the site was handed over to a new contractor at a cost of USD 2.56 million.
Currently, the construction progress stands at 85 percent, 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 Kenya in 2016.
Veronica Nduva with Lake Victoria Basin Commission’s Executive Secretary, Dr Masinde Bwire, and Deputy Executive Secretary, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, with the cake to commemorate the community’s silver jubilee at the LVBC offices in Kisumu.
Once completed, the headquarters will house various offices for projects and program undertaken by the Commission, featuring state-of-the-art conference facilities and a Centre of excellence.
During her two-day visit to Kisumu, the EAC Secretary General inspected the site and commended the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (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 President William Ruto, the current Chairperson of the Summit,” said SG Nduva.
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission’s Executive Secretary, Dr Masinde Bwire, reaffirmed the management’s commitment to completing the project within the set timelines.
Earlier, Nduva paid a courtesy call on the Kisumu County Governor, Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o and Nyanza Regional Commissioner Ms Flora Mworoa, where they held bilateral discussions on collaboration between the Lake Victoria Basin Commission.
They also discussed both the county and national governments for the implementation of projects and programs 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 program for the Lake Victoria Basin that will be funded by the World Bank at a cost of USD 450 Million.