Site Inspection and Meeting for Proposed Construction of Office Block for Lake Victoria Basin Commission Headquarters Phase II – Progress at 77%
On Tuesday 8th April 2025, a site inspection and meeting took place in Kisumu to review the ongoing Construction of Office Block for Lake Victoria Basin Commission Headquarters Phase II. The works are ongoing at 77% completion and progress in commendable.
The inspection was led by Ag. Chief Architect David M. Waititu from SDPW, accompanied by Project Management team members: Architect Javan Owino, Quantity Surveyor Mary Gichuki, Engineers Wanyoike KD (Electrical), Sila Lel (Civil/Structural), and Kiplangat Kononden (Mechanical), Elizabeth Muthui (Architectural Assistant & Clerk of Works), Interior Designer Gordon Magak, Landscape Architect Deborah Chelangat, CFO Pauline Ngari, and Communications Officer Margaret Wahome.
The team from Lake Victoria Basin Commission was represented by Calistus Quincy, Pamela Onyiso and Furaha Mwaluseke, Mr. Kai Yang and Mr.Benard Sang, from the main contractor China Jiangxi International Kenya Ltd. also attended the meeting and Inspection.
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) relocated to its permanent headquarters in Kisumu, Kenya in January 2007. Consequently, a Headquarters Agreement between the Government of Kenya and the East African Community on behalf of The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) was signed which among others provides for the Headquarters seat for the Commission to be in Kisumu, Kenya. It is against this background that there was need to establish a permanent home capable of meeting operational needs of The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC). This is not only an investment but also a huge capital gain for the East African Community.
The completed project will comprise 3 stories (Ground, First and Second Floors). Each floor has two wings (A and B) constituting office spaces (both pool and enclosed), boardrooms and conference hall of modern drywall/aluminum partitions. The wings are joined by a central core which constitutes common and transitional spaces, lift and staircase lobbies, washrooms (Ladies and Gents) and security checkpoints. The elongated design of the building takes into consideration the vertical height limit due to the site location, as well as the expansive nature of the lake. The concept also propagates openness and transparency in the design layout. In addition, the external works comprise civil and landscape works.
The meeting covered key milestones achieved this far and the next steps to ensure the timely completion of the project, which will enhance the operations of The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) in their mandate which is to promote, facilitate and coordinate activities of different actors towards sustainable development. It also aims at eradicating poverty within the community living in the Lake Victoria Basin.