The East African Community (EAC) has set aside Sh355 million for the completion of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters in Kisumu.
LVBC Executive Secretary Dr Masinde Bwire said the new building was expected to be completed within 80 weeks.
The fund contributed by EAC member states for the construction of the building will enable the commission to move to the new offices in February 2025.
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 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.
Upon completion, he said the headquarters being constructed on the shores of Lake Victoria will fast-track consolidation and ensure smooth coordination of the activities of the commission across the Great Lakes region.
Dr Bwire, who handed over the site for phase two of the project to the contractor China Jiangxi International Kenya Limited, said the construction works should be completed within the stipulated timelines.
“The commission has partnered with the State Department for Public Works to ensure that the project is completed on time and within the set budget,” he said.
The executive secretary pointed out that the contractor was sourced out competitively as per the procurement procedures.
The agency, he said, has put measures in place to ensure the work is done to the set standards.
“This headquarters will be the home for the commission. It will play a part in the beautification of Kisumu City,” Dr Bwire said.
LVBC is the only EAC institution with headquarters in Kenya and diplomatic missions in the country located outside Nairobi.
Currently, the agency offices are located and operating at the Nyanza Regional headquarters- a few metres from Kisumu’s State Lodge.
Public Works deputy chief Architect David Waititu assured that the project will be completed within the timelines.
The completion of phase one of the project was delayed due to bad because of rains and poor terrain.
“We want the building to be done. This is going to be a landmark project which is highly anticipated,” Waititu said.
He commended the EAC for giving Kenya the opportunity to host the headquarters of the LVBC secretariat.
Waititu added that the government will ensure the project is completed within the budget.
Last year, the LVBC principal administrative officer Millicent Opiyo said phase one of the Sh142.7 million headquarters complex was 85 per cent done.
Opiyo said phase had assured that the work was 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.