The East Africa Community (EAC) has allocated Sh355 million for the completion of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters in Kisumu.
LVBC Executive Secretary (ES), Dr. Masinde Bwire, said the allocation contributed by EAC member states will see the agency, which is mandated to coordinate sustainable development and management of the Lake Victoria basin, move to the new building in February 2025.
Speaking after handing over the site for phase two of the project, Dr. Bwire said the contractor, China Jiangxi International Kenya Limited, has up to 80 weeks to complete the project.
LVBC, he said, has partnered with the State Department for Public Works to ensure that the project is completed on time and within the set budget.
Dr. Bwire said the contractor was competitively sourced, adding that the agency has put measures in place to ensure the work is done to the set standards.
“Our hope is that this place will be home to LVBC and add to the beautification of Kisumu City,” he said.
LVBC is the only EAC institution with headquarters in Kenya and the only diplomatic mission in the country located outside Nairobi.
The building, which is being constructed on the shores of Lake Victoria, is expected to aid in the smooth coordination of the agency’s services.
State Department for Public Works Deputy Chief Architect David Waititu expressed optimism that the project, which has taken a long time to complete, will be done within the timeframe.
“We are here to get the project moving. It is a landmark building that is highly anticipated. We appreciate the EAC for giving us a chance to host the headquarters of this secretariat, and we will do our bit to ensure it is done within the set budget,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
