The East Africa Community (EAC) has released Sh103.4 million to complete the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters building in Kisumu.
EAC Secretary General, Veronica Mueni Nduva, said the funds contributed by partner states will see the two-storey building completed and handed over to LVBC in January next year.
Phase II of the project which is being supervised by the State Department for Public Works, she said, was 85 percent complete adding that through support from the EAC partner states and development partners, the building will not only beautify Kisumu city’s skyline but serve as a hub for East Africa integration.
The building, which comes with modern conference facilities and meeting rooms, she said was set to boost the economy of Kisumu with high profile EAC meetings set to be held there.
“This project is going to contribute immensely to the economy of Kisumu through the various activities that will be happening here,” she said.
This, she added was a milestone for the EAC, which marks 25 years of existence, adding that hosting all the LVBC departments at the building will give impetus to the ongoing Lake Basin conservation efforts.
LVBC is one of the 11 EAC agencies and is mandated to coordinate sustainable development and management of the Lake Victoria Basin.
Currently, LVBC is housed at the New Nyanza Regional Headquaters building in Kisumu City.
As the EAC marks 25 years, the Secretary General lauded the progress made in scaling up trade and integration between the partner states.
This, she said was demonstrated by the growth of partner states from three to eight with the customs union opening up trade and business opportunities for the over 300 million residents.
By Chris Mahandara
