The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and the County Government of Kisumu’s leadership discuss benefits of localizing programmatic interventions for maximal impacts in East African Partner States starting with Kisumu as LVBC’s host county.
The foregoing was revealed on 27th October 2022 during a courtesy call made by the LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Bwire K. Masinde to Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, the Governor of Kisumu County, the host county of Lake Victoria Basin Commission since its establishment.
Dr. Bwire took the occasion to introduce the Deputy Executive Secretary, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya to the leadership of Kisumu County. Issues discussed included localizing mutually benefiting programmatic interventions and partnerships for pollution control on Lake Victoria, maritime security and safety on Lake Victoria, environmental security, maritime trade and entrepreneurship.
“There are fishermen communities in 3 EAC Partners States – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Their safety and security while fishing is very important,” observed Kisumu county Governor, Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. He explained how boat building technologies need review and refining to reduce maritime accidents and further, he revealed raw materials used by boat builders in Kisumu having exposed fishermen to maritime accident risks. He therefore urged for synergistic linkages to solve the problem.
the governor also emphasized the role of local authorities in enforcing existing rules and regulation relative to protection of buffer zones. Harmonization of environmental related policies in EAC Partner States is one of the core mandates of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC).
The Executive Secretary, LVBC briefed the County leadership about existing regional initiatives coordinated by LVBC which specifically included Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) implemented in Manyatta A in Kisumu, Kenya and other towns in EAC Partner States. He suggested blended financing and reiterated strategic collaboration of agencies and countries in reversing marine accidents on Lake Victoria.
The meeting attended by the Deputy Executive secretary LVBC, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, and a select team from the Commission resolved that Kisumu County Environmental Chief Officer and other sector specific actors relevant to LVBC core areas of cooperation shall meet to discuss on strategies of scaling up IWRM in Manyatta A and other in other projects coordinated by LVBC.
