Kisumu City on Saturday, marked a historic milestone as it officially became home to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters. The development was hailed as a turning point for the region’s economic, environmental and social transformation.

President William Ruto, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community and Regional Development, Beatrice Askul, described the establishment of the LVBC head offices in Kisumu as a strategic investment not only in institutional capacity but also in the livelihood of millions who depend on the lake.

He noted that the new headquarters would bring both direct and indirect local benefits, including job opportunities and new business prospects, while positioning Kisumu as the natural capital of transboundary environmental management in the Lake Victoria Basin.

“This headquarters strengthens Kisumu’s role in regional integration and economic transformation,” the President said through CS Askul, who also presided over the official opening of the LVBC offices.

Shared vision for the Basin

Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, in his address, as delivered by Kisumu Deputy Governor, Dr. Matthews Owilli, said the decision to host the LVBC headquarters in Kisumu was a profound affirmation of the county’s growing stature as a regional hub for innovation, trade, and sustainable development.

“To host the Lake Victoria Basin Commission which is an apex institution of the East African Community, is an honour bestowed upon us by the entire region and we receive it with humility and pride,” said Nyong’o. “This achievement reinforces the spirit of East African cooperation and our shared responsibility as stewards of the second-largest freshwater lake in the world,” he added.

The Governor underscored the close alignment between Kisumu County’s development agenda and LVBC’s mandate to promote sustainable growth and poverty reduction across the Basin.

He cited fisheries, aquaculture, trade, transport, tourism and environmental protection as key sectors where the county and the Commission share strategic priorities.

“On fisheries and aquaculture, both the Commission and Kisumu County have eyes focused on strengthening value chains, enhancing quality, expanding fish landing sites and promoting climate-smart innovations,” Nyong’o said.

Reviving blue economy and lake transport

Nyong’o revealed that in partnership with Kenya Shipyards Limited, the county had recently acquired six fiberglass boats distributed to five Beach Management Unit cooperatives to replace unsafe wooden vessels that have caused numerous lake accidents.

He emphasized that revitalizing the lake’s transport corridors would boost regional mobility of goods and people, unlocking economic potential within the East African Community.

“Through enhanced transport systems, the created corridors will significantly boost trade across the region,” he said, calling on LVBC to facilitate harmonization of regional laws and standards to enhance trade between Kisumu Port, Mwanza, Port Bell and other lake transport routes.

Focus on climate resilience and biodiversity

The Governor highlighted the Basin’s exceptional aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, home to over 500 endemic fish species and important bird and wildlife sanctuaries.

He urged the LVBC to champion ecosystem restoration programmes that will stabilize water levels, reduce pollution and restore fisheries productivity.

“Such initiatives will protect communities from climate shocks and ensure that the Basin remains a source of life and livelihood for generations to come,” Nyong’o said, adding that Kisumu was already implementing climate resilience projects that could be scaled regionally through LVBC partnerships.

Looking to the future, Nyong’o said Kisumu County would work closely with LVBC to empower youth and women through aquaculture enterprises, fish feed production, eco-innovation, and digital tourism platforms.

He said the county also intended to engage the LVBC Secretariat as a knowledge and coordination hub for research, joint planning, and early warning systems on water resource management.

Both President Ruto and Governor Nyong’o hailed the opening of the LVBC headquarters as a transformational opportunity that will unlock vast socio-economic potential across the region.

“This is a bold step towards a shared future where the Lake Victoria Basin becomes a global model for sustainable and inclusive growth,” Nyong’o said.

In his message, President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting the LVBC’s work, noting that the institution’s presence in Kisumu would drive cooperation among partner states and enhance the well-being of the over 50 million people who rely on Lake Victoria and its watershed.

The event, attended by regional leaders, diplomats, and senior East African Community officials, symbolized a new chapter for Kisumu, now firmly positioned as the nerve centre of East Africa’s blue economy and cross-border development cooperation.