Sh2bn raised for war on hyacinth

What you need to know:

  • Transport in the lake has lately been affected by the hyacinth carpet, leading to numerous accidents and causing investors to keep off.
  • Dr Kanangire said the funds, to be donated by the African Development Bank, and the German Government, will also go towards building of communication centres to help improve safety in the lake.  

The East African Community has announced plans to invest Sh2 billion in the eradication of water hyacinth on Lake Victoria.

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission, which will implement the project, said the money will also cover renovation of ports as well as construction of new ones.

The commission secretary, Dr Canisius Kanangire, Tuesday told the Daily Nation that the poor state of the lake had affected its accessibility and hindered investment.
According to Dr Kanangire, in spite of its vast potential and strategic location, benefits of the lake were yet to be fully exploited.

“Last December, we signed a protocol for a grant of about 10 million euros (about Sh1.1 billion) from Germany and another leverage of the same from the European Union, focusing more on sanitation aimed at reducing the pollution currently experienced.

“This is part of our 2011-2016 strategic plan,” he said at his office in Kisumu.

NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS

Transport in the lake has lately been affected by the hyacinth carpet, leading to numerous accidents and causing investors to keep off.

Similarly Busia, Kisumu and Siaya counties have lamented that the condition of the lake has undermined their efforts to market themselves as investment destinations in the East African region.

The aquatic weed increased in volume in 2002 following the halt of the first phase of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme (LVEMP).   

Kisumu Port, which was last renovated in 1994, has a cargo capacity of more than 1,200 tonnes.

Dr Kanangire said the funds, to be donated by the African Development Bank, and the German Government, will also go towards building of communication centres to help improve safety in the lake.  

“We have also developed communication programmes with the African Water Facility. Currently, the African Development Bank is finalising the appraisal to be presented before the board of the bank in March for approval of 23 million us dollars (about Sh2 billion),” he said.

The commission was also in the process of updating the navigating map of the lake to assist sailors and reduce accidents.

“We are developing terms of reference for the feasibility study to develop technical assistance of whatever is to be achieved,” he said.