The East African Community (EAC) is set to inaugurate the newly completed headquarters of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) in Kisumu, marking a major milestone for regional cooperation and environmental stewardship.
The ultra-modern Sh458.9 million complex, situated on a 2.8-acre parcel along the Lake Victoria shoreline, will officially become home to the LVBC, a specialised EAC institution tasked with coordinating sustainable development and transboundary programmes within the Lake Victoria Basin.
The land for the project was donated by the government in 2016.
Designed to host high-level EAC and diplomatic meetings, the new facility features modern office spaces and state-of-the-art conference amenities.
The HQs is set to enhance the commission's capacity to coordinate regional programmes and environmental initiatives.
Several dignitaries from the EAC states have already arrived in Kisumu for the inauguration, which is expected to highlight the region’s growing role in advancing East Africa’s integration agenda.
LVBC Executive Secretary Masinde Bwire earlier noted that the relocation will strengthen coordination among partner states.
He 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 transboundary projects and offers a more efficient platform for collaboration,” he said.
The project was overseen by Kenya’s State Department for Public Works under the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development.
The development aligns with the EAC Vision 2050, which emphasises environmental sustainability, improved infrastructure and deeper regional unity.
Established in 2001, the LVBC is the only EAC institution headquartered in Kenya and the only diplomatic mission based outside Nairobi.
Its core mandate is to champion sustainable development, protect the Lake Victoria ecosystem, and foster cooperation among member states.
The building, according to LVBC, is set to give impetus to Lake Victoria conservation efforts by hosting key projects run by the agency.
