CS TOBIKO CALLS FOR LASTING SOLUTION TO WATER HYACINTH

CS Keriako Tobiko listens keenly to the LVEMP Project Cordinator Ms. Francisca Owour during a brieffing on the archievements on LVMP 2

Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary KeriakoTobiko has called on Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (LVEMP) to come up with a long term solution to the invasive water hyacinth that has for long choked the lake.

The CS says it is imperative that a strategy is employed to get rid of the weed from the lake to enable thousands of residents derive a living from the resource.

He added “My Ministry is the leadagency in the removal of water hyacinth and we must rid the lake of weed once and for all”.

Mr. Tobiko made the remarks at his office when he received officials of the LVEMP who briefed him on various activities. The team was led by M/S Agnes Yobterick the programme’s focal point officer who is also the director of programmes, projects and strategic initiatives in the Ministry of Environment. She was accompanied by M/Francisca Owuor, the national programme coordinator.

The CS said that the removal of the weed is necessary for economic and environmental prosperity of the local communityand that it will allow other Ministries and government entities to implement projects that aim at making Kisumu city and its environs an economic hub.

Mr. Tobikoobserved that theproposed constructionof Kisumucommercial waterfront development would benefit from the removal of the weed from the lake.

The national government and Kisumu county government will develop the Lake Victoria leisure and tradewaterfront to boost tourism and investment in Western Kenya Circuit.