Residents residing in Lamu county have expressed their satisfaction in the ongoing developments associated with the forthcoming Lamu port.- By Gerald Gekara
The project christened LAPSSET Corridor Program is Eastern Africa’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project that seeks to enhance the connection between Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan regions.
So far, the construction of the first three berths stands at 83%, with the first berth already complete. The full completion of the three berths is slated for mid-2021.
Other developments such as the Interregional Highways from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba (South Sudan), Isiolo to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Lamu to Garsen (Kenya), Crude Oil Pipeline from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba are already in the pipeline.
The development has so far seen ease of movement between Lamu and its environs, after the upgrade of several roads that link to the port.
Lamu County Development Authority (LCDA) has continued to engage the public, to achieve infrastructure programs.
On Thursday, 29th October, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho gave a clean bill of health to the 32-berth Lamu Port.
He said the Lamu Port project, which was started in 2012, is one of the flagship projects that the President is eager to see operational.
“We expect between now and next year that the President will come here for the commissioning,” said Kibicho.
After the completion of the first three berths, the project is projected to employ at least 1,500 people. This will raise Lamu’s incomes and reduce over-reliance on tourism as its main economic activity.
Once complete, Lamu port will be the Largest port in Africa, in terms of both Ship handling and tonnage of cargo moved in a day.
In ship handling, the deepwater dredge at the New Lamu Port will facilitate the docking for larger vessels of up to post Panamax size(s) that are currently unable to dock in Mombasa.
While in terms of handling goods, the new Lamu Port will have dedicated facilities for Cargo consolidation centers for goods destined for global markets and goods sourced from the Lapsset corridor.
