Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Executive Secretary Dr. Masinde Bwire has disclosed that pollution in the lake has increased by 50 percent over the last four decades posing a danger to human and aquatic life.
Speaking in Kisumu during the 22nd Sectorial Council of Ministers on Lake Victoria Basin (SECOM-LVB), Dr. Bwire said that the effects of pollution are already being felt and if not urgently addressed the situation was likely to get out of hand.
He pointed out the dwindling fish stocks in the lake adding that some of the species that existed in the water body were now extinct due to rapid pollution.
Dr. Bwire said that LVBC has organized a scientific conference in November where experts will engage and present papers on how to restore and conserve the lake to reverse the tide.
He that added it will be followed by Lake Victoria Day to call all the agencies to action and ensure that the lake is given prominence in all conservation programmes within the East Africa Community (EAC).
Kenya’s Shipping and Maritime Principal Secretary (PS) Geoffrey Kaituko said that collaboration between the EAC member states was key in the conservation of the water body.
His counterpart in Rwanda, Patrick Karera, said that his Ministry has rolled out several programmes to control soil erosion and pollution.
Karera added that they are sensitizing local farmers on proper agricultural practices to ensure that their soils are not washed into the lake.
His Tanzania counterpart Prof. Jamal Katundu said that the good relation between partner states was key to harnessing joint conservation of the lake.
Katundu said that several joint programmes were already ongoing adding that through partnerships with development partners, the initiatives shall be scaled up to save the lake.
“We are already talking to the World Bank and we are hopeful that we are going to raise the much-needed resources to conserve the lake,” he said.
Also present were Burundi’s Environment Permanent Secretary (PS) Emmanuel Niyungeko, South Sudan Ministry of Water representative Eng. Chut Isaack and Permanent Secretary for Water Alfred Okidi, and Tanzania’s Ambassador to Kenya Dr. Benard Kibise.
By Fredrick Odiero
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