Mwanza, Tanzania, has been designated as the regional coordination headquarters for a new East African Community (EAC) initiative to enhance maritime safety on Lake Victoria. This development, announced on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, during the 1st Extraordinary Sectoral Council of Ministers and Permanent Secretaries of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) in Kisumu, aims to curb the alarming rate of fatalities on the lake.

Kenya's East African Community Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu highlighted the urgent need for these measures, citing data from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that indicates approximately 5,000 lives are lost annually on Lake Victoria, with about 50 percent being fishermen.

The Mwanza centre is now fully operational and will serve as the central hub for all maritime emergency responses. Satellite centres are also being established in Kisumu, Kenya, and Entebbe, Uganda, though these are not yet fully developed. In total, 16 maritime and rescue centres will be distributed along the Lake Victoria shoreline: nine in Uganda, four in Kenya, and three in Tanzania.

Historical and Political Context of Lake Victoria Safety

Lake Victoria, Africa's largest inland lake, is shared by Tanzania (51%), Uganda (44%), and Kenya (5%). It is a critical resource for fisheries, freshwater, and transportation, supporting millions of livelihoods. However, it has long been plagued by maritime accidents due to poor communication infrastructure and limited rescue capacity.

Previous initiatives, such as the High Impact Weather Lake System (HIGHWAY) project, funded by the UK Government, established a pilot regional Early Warning System. This project, which concluded in 2021, demonstrated a 30% reduction in annual weather-related deaths on the lake, saving over 300 lives per year. The current EAC initiative builds upon these efforts, with a vision to scale up the regional early warning system by 2025.

Laws, Policy, and Governance

The EAC Council Chairperson revealed that an agreement was reached on the utilisation of KSh 7.8 billion (equivalent to 50 million euros) in funding from the Government of Germany for these maritime safety improvements. The Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communication and Transport (MLVMCT) Project underpins the construction of these high-tech facilities, including the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (RMRCC) in Mwanza.

Stakeholders and Testimonies

Ludovick Nduhiye, Deputy Permanent Secretary in Tanzania's Ministry of Transport, expressed pride in Mwanza's selection as the regional headquarters, emphasising that the infrastructure will not only save lives but also support economic growth by making Lake Victoria safer for business and transport.

Dr. Masinde Bwire, LVBC Executive Secretary, affirmed that the Mwanza coordination centre will be the backbone of the region's maritime safety efforts.

Evidence/Data Box

• Annual Fatalities: Approximately 5,000 lives lost on Lake Victoria each year.
• Funding: KSh 7.8 billion (50 million euros) from the Government of Germany for maritime infrastructure.
• Operational Hub: Mwanza, Tanzania, is the fully operational regional coordination headquarters.
• Satellite Centres: Kisumu, Kenya, and Entebbe, Uganda, are establishing satellite centres.
• Total Rescue Centres: 16 maritime and rescue centres planned across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Kenya-Russia Migration Framework

In a separate but significant development, Kenya and Russia are working to formalise a framework for regular migration between the two countries. This initiative, discussed during bilateral talks on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Nairobi between Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei and Russian Ambassador Vsevolod Tkachenko, aims to protect Kenyan nationals from exploitation, particularly concerning irregular conscriptions into the Russian military.

The talks come amid growing concerns over the irregular conscription of Kenyan citizens into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with several repatriations already reported. The Russian government has assured Nairobi of its zero-tolerance policy towards involuntary recruitment of foreign nationals.

Kenya has launched an inquiry into human trafficking networks that promise lucrative jobs in Russia but funnel individuals into military service, with one recruitment ring already busted in Athi River. The formalised migration framework is expected to create structured, transparent, and legal pathways for labour mobility, safeguarding citizens from predatory schemes.

Unknowns and Controversies

While the Mwanza centre is operational, the exact timelines for the full development and operationalisation of the satellite centres in Kisumu and Entebbe remain unclear. Similarly, the specific details of the implementation and monitoring mechanisms for the Kenya-Russia migration framework are yet to be fully disclosed. The effectiveness of the migration framework will depend on its swift and effective implementation, with key performance indicators including a measurable drop in illegal migration and guaranteed consular access for Kenyan embassy staff.

Timeline and Next Steps

The EAC's maritime safety initiative has seen the Mwanza regional coordination headquarters become fully operational as of Wednesday, October 8, 2025. For the migration framework, Kenya and Russia have agreed to expedite its conclusion following their bilateral talks on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

What to Watch

Observers will be keenly watching the progress of the Kisumu and Entebbe satellite centres and the broader network of 16 maritime and rescue centres around Lake Victoria. The implementation of the Kenya-Russia migration framework, particularly its ability to protect Kenyan citizens from irregular recruitment and ensure their welfare, will also be a key area of focus. Further details on the framework's operational aspects and any associated costs and safeguards are anticipated.