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Phase one of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission headquarters in Kisumu is almost done.
The commission's principal administrative officer Millicent Opiyo said the Sh142.7 million headquarters complex was 85 per cent done.
Opiyo said phase one is expected to be completed by the close of this financial year ending in June.
Phase one includes the construction of part of the administrative block to accommodate staff, the second staff quarters and another office block.
LVBC is an organisation of the East Africa Community which is headquartered in Kisumu and has been operating from Nyanza regional headquarters.
The commission is mandated to regulate, facilitate and promote sustainable utilisation of resources along the Lake Victoria Basin for the benefit of the EAC member states.
“We are also looking forward to starting the second phase soon, at the end of this financial,” Opiyo said.
The second phase is projected to cost about USD 2 million of the estimated total cost of USD 3.5 million which includes administrative costs.
Opiyo said the procurement process was already on and by the end of July it will be completed.
“The second phase will start around June or July. We have to advertise, shortlist and award tenders,” she said.
Opiyo said they have already received approval for funding for the second phase of the project.
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and South Sudan which share the lake resources contribute a percentage towards the project.
Other member states are Rwanda and now DRC Congo.
The headquarters is being built on 2.8-acre land along the lakeshore donated by the government in 2016. It is near Kisumu International Airport.
Although the first phase was initially projected to end in five months, this was not possible because of bad weather due to too much rain and poor terrain.
“This forced the contractor to take more time in the excavation of the land,” Opiyo said.
Upon completion, the headquarters will fast-track consolidation and ensure smooth coordination of the activities of the commission across the Great Lakes region.
Opiyo was addressing the press in Kisumu, on Monday during the opening of the 21st Sectoral council of ministers for the Lake Victoria Basin Commission.
The new LVBC executive secretary Masinde Bwire said Secom provides overall policy guidance and oversight of the commission.
Bwire said Secom will ensure policy direction and coordination and implementation of the project and programmes in Lake Victoria Basin partner states.
He replaced Ally Said Matano whose tenure has ended. Bwire said in his five-year tenure they have highlighted priorities in five thematic areas that would be implemented as per the development plan.
He said climate change and pollution are among the challenges the commission was facing.
Bwire said the construction of the commission's headquarters was right on course and exuded confidence that it will be completed on time.
“We will move to the new offices once the construction is completed,” he said.
The executive secretary said the second phase was in process with due diligence being undertaken before the works started.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
