Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Natural resources and Regional development Prof Judi Wakhungu has asked the counties sharing the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) to work together to safe guard the water resource.
Speaking on Friday during the 15th meeting of the sectorial council of ministers for Lake Victoria Basin at Acacia Hotel in Kisumu County, Prof Wakhungu said the resource is trans-boundary, therefore there is necessity for the East African Community to resolve their issues.
"Lake Victoria Basin is an area rich in biodiversity and as such represents an economic growth zone for the region. However the LVB continues to face environmental threats and challenges which must be tackled in order to realise the desired socio-economic benefits and regional integration in environmental management," said Wakhungu.
She said the management of trans-boundary water resources for Lake Victoria is fundamental in improving EAC integration agenda.
"It is without doubt that success in addressing the environmental and natural resources issues require unwavering cooperation amongst all key stakeholders to harness the pivotal role of the basin leadership," said the CS.
She added, "I am informed there has been good progress in achieving the objectives of the programmes and projects with the recent additional financing of 10 million US dollars each for Kenya and Tanzania."
Prof Wakhungu said the funds will trickle to the Lake Victoria Management Programme for another two and half years.