KISUMU, Kenya, September,2025 –The State Department for Public Works has officially handed over a new building worth $5.5 million (Sh711,385,257) to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), the organisation responsible for its construction.
It will serve as the new headquarters for the LVBC, which is a specialised institution of the East African Community (EAC).
Located on a picturesque 2.8-acre site along the shores of Lake Victoria, which was donated by the Kenyan Government, the building is designed to centralise and enhance the commission’s operations.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Works, Joel Arumonyang, and the Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, Dr Masinde Bwire. This event marked the completion of phases one and two of the construction, which took three years to finish.
Speaking during the ceremony on Wednesday, September 24th, Dr Bwire stated that phases one and two cost a total of $3.9 million. (504,295,794).
“Today, we, as the EAC, have the honour of receiving a building that we have eagerly awaited for almost three years. It symbolises our commitment to regional cooperation, environmental sustainability, and the institutional growth of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission. It also serves as an icon of the unity among our partner states,” Dr Bwire said.
He noted that the funds for the construction were contributed equally by the partner states from the taxpayers’ money, expressing gratitude for the commitment shown by the heads of state of the EAC.
“This building will not only provide us with a workspace but also serve as a venue for formulating regional policies, generating directives and principles, and fostering regional growth,” he added.
Dr Bwire mentioned that the last phase of construction will commence next month estimated to cost approximately $1.4 million (180,866,000), which will include furnishing the building, bringing the total project cost to $5.5 million.
Upon the completion of the third phase, he further indicated that the building would be officially launched later this year by Kenya’s President William Ruto, who currently serves as the EAC Chairman.
In his remarks, Hon Arumonyang commended and appreciated LVBC for their collaboration over the past three years, which led to the successful completion of the project.
“I want to highlight our role as project managers, which shows that both the professionals from the country and the region are fully capable of executing such remarkable projects. With phases one and two successfully completed, we are now looking ahead to phase three,” said Arumonyang.
He further emphasised that this building will assist the commission in fulfilling its mandate and vision for the region and for Africa as a whole.
