Nairobi — President Kibaki says Lake Victoria is under threat as water levels recede, putting to risk the livelihoods of more than 30 million people.

Kibaki said soil and water pollution, over-fishing and worsening ecosystem had affected people, animals and plants on the Victoria basin.

The President called for urgent and decisive action to halt further degradation of the lake and the surrounding environment.

"The East African Community member States have initiated institutional and collaborative efforts with development partners to save the lake," he said.

Kibaki made the remarks at the launch of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) in Kisumu.

Tanzania's Vice-President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, and Uganda's first deputy Prime Minister, Mr Eriya Kategaya, attended the function.

Kibaki said the Government had donated five acres of land in Kisumu for LVBC headquarters. He said projects aimed at protecting the lake's ecosystem and fish have been started.

But despite interventions through Lake Victoria Management Project, Global Environmental Facility, Nile Equatorial Lakes Action Programme and Mt Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Project, President Kibaki said the quality of the lake continued to deteriorate.

"These interventions should not exempt local communities, businesspeople, local authorities and national governments. All of us are under obligation to work with and support LVBC," he said.

The Government has embarked on an electrification programme at several beaches to help in fish storage.

"I urge fishermen to form co-operative societies to build and manage cold storage facilities. Such facilities are crucial for the growth of vibrant fish market," Kibaki said.

He said communities should be educated on lake preservation. "There is need to sensitise fishermen to avoid harmful practices, including harvesting of immature fish," he said.

Kibaki also called on riparian communities to shun practices that encouraged the spread of HIV/Aids.

He thanked the World Bank, East African Development Bank and governments of Norway, Sweden and France for the development of the basin.

Kategaya and Shein said the concerns of the communities within the lake region should be addressed to ensure equitable sharing of resources.

Cabinet ministers, Mr Henry Obwocha, Mr Raphael Tuju, Mr John Koech, Mr Musikari Kombo and Mr John Michuki, and Assistant ministers, Mr Joshua Toro and Dr Bonny Khalwale attended the function.

Also present were MPs Mr Raila Odinga, Dr Oburu Odinga, Prof Anyang' Nyong'o, Mr Ken Nyagudi, Prof Ayiecho Olweny, Mr Peter Odoyo, Mr Gor Sunguh and Mr Paddy Ahenda, and Kisumu mayor, Ms Priscah Auma.