Members of the East African Legislative Assembly Accounts Committee, pursuant to their oversight role, have commenced on a week-long visit to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Secretariat in Kisumu and its activities in parts of the Mount Elgon region in Kenya.
The Members, who are conducting an on-spot assessment of selected activities of the Commission, yesterday inspected the LVBC research vessel, RV Jumuiya, before completing a three-hour voyage with it. During the voyage, the Committee held a meeting during which the Executive Secretary, Dr Tom Okurut, explained the recently-completed research activities facilitated by the vessel.
The EALA Accounts Committee Chairman, Hon. Bernard Mulengani, expressed satisfaction about progress made by LVBC in the refurbishment and use of the vessel.
Earlier, the Committee held a meeting with the Commission’s staff and received a briefing about the six ongoing major projects and programmes: the Lake Victoria Environment Management Project (Phase II); the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation (LVWATSAN) Initiatives Phase II; the Maritime Communication and Safety on Lake Victoria (MSCLV); the Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme (MERECP); the EAC/AMREF Lake Victoria Basin HIV and AIDS Partnership (EALP) Programme; and the Transboundary Water for Biodiversity and Human Health in the Mara River Project (TWB-MRB). The Committee also received a briefing on the upcoming first-ever Lake Victoria Basin Investment Forum to take place in Mwanza, Tanzania, 5th – 8th December 2010.
Today, the Committee shall proceed to the Kenya side of the Mount Elgon region for an extensive on-spot assessment of ongoing activities under MERECP in districts including Trans Nzoia West and Kwanza. During this visit, the Committee shall receive detailed information about the ongoing projects under MERECP.
The Committee shall wrap-up its visit on 18th November 2010.
For more information, please contact: Owora Richard Othieno, Ag. Head of Department, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs; Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: othieno@eachq.org OR Charles-Martin Jjuuko, Communications and Development Awareness Officer, Lake Victoria Basin Commission Secretariat; Tel: +254 726 760127, Email: jjuuko@lvbsec.org
