The World Bank has allocated USD 0.75 M equivalent to KES 105M for the implementation of the Nile co-operation climate resistance project, component led by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC).
The projects will be undertaken in all the seven (7) East African Community Partner States namely Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Lake Victoria Basin commission deputy executive secretary Eng. Coletha Ruhamya said that the Bank has already committed to support the initiative whose main aim is to improve mechanisms for co-operation on water resources management and development in the Nile Basin.
Eng. Ruhamya explained that through the funding, the commission is implementing the water quality in Lake Victoria sub- basin and policy harmonization and development of Water Quality strategy and action plan.
She said, “The support of the world Bank is coming at time when huge populations of people living within the Nile basin are facing major problems of degradation of Water Quality. This funding will go a long way in sorting out the existing challenges”.
Eng. Ruhamya said the activities is covering all the seven (7) Nile equatorial lake countries and the East African Community Partner States at the same time.
She added that the overall objective of the activity is to harmonize and strengthen water quality policies which govern the sub-basin countries.
In addition, Eng Ruhamya said the Commission is in discussion with the World Bank on maritime issues and remote sensing for water quality and Lake water level monitoring.
She appreciated the Partner Sates Support to LVBC to ensure that, they continue mobilizing resources, that will help in smooth implementation of the projects”.
The deputy executive secretary made the remarks during her presentation in a two (2) days National stakeholder’s consultation workshop in Nairobi.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission Water Resource Management’s coordinator Eng. Simon Otoung also attended the workshop.
The Nile basin has been facing serious threats, among them deforestation, overgrazing and erosion from agriculture.
Sustainability of water supply in the context of increased human population and persistent drought has also been identified as other challenges affecting people living within the basin.
Lake Victoria has also been experiencing pollution due to untreated human and industrial waste, with traces of dangerous mineral.
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