The Lake Victoria Basin Commission, a specialised organ of the East African Community, is set to relocate to its newly completed ultra-modern headquarters in Kisumu.
The move marks a significant stride in strengthening regional integration and advancing sustainable development in the Lake Victoria Basin.
With final preparations ongoing, the Sh458.9 million facility will be officially handed over to the LVBC secretariat on May 31.
Occupying a 2.8-acres along the Lake Victoria shoreline, the new complex is strategically located on land donated by the government in 2016.
The facility, which boasts of modern office spaces and high-tech conference amenities, is set to enhance the commission’s capacity to coordinate regional programmes and environmental initiatives.
EAC Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul, who recently led a ministerial delegation to inspect the building, praised the project’s progress and completion.
“We commend the contractor for delivering on this ambitious undertaking. This facility is a major boost to LVBC’s operational strength and visibility across the region,” she said.
Masinde Bwire, LVBC executive secretary, said the new offices will enable the institution to better serve more than 40 million people living in the Lake Victoria Basin.
“This move reflects our growing responsibility in coordinating trans boundary projects and offers a more efficient platform for collaboration,” he said.
Construction of the second phase began on August 7, 2023, following the handover to a new contractor in late July of the same year.
The phase was implemented at a cost of $2.56 million (Sh323 million). An additional $802,126 (Sh103 million) was later approved by the EAC Council of Ministers during its 46th Ordinary Meeting in Arusha in November 2024, bringing the total cost to $3.54 million (Sh439 million).
Oversight for the project was provided by Kenya’s State Department for Public Works under the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development.
The development aligns with the goals of the EAC Vision 2050, which emphasises environmental sustainability, infrastructure advancement and regional unity.
Established in 2001, the LVBC is the only EAC institution headquartered in Kenya and the sole diplomatic mission outside Nairobi.
Its mandate is to spearhead sustainable development and coordinate efforts among partner states to protect and conserve the Lake Victoria ecosystem.
by FAITH MATETE
