Sh8.9bn set aside to speed up Lamu port

The Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transportation (Lapsset) Corridor Project has received a major boost after the national government announced the allocation of Sh8.9 billion to speed up construction

Speaking at the weekend, East Africa Community and Northern Corridor Development Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said 50 per cent of the work at the port has been done. Mr. Munya visited the port site in Kililana, Lamu West. He said more money would be injected into the budget. Construction of the first three berths is ongoing, with the first berth expected to be ready by December this year.

Mr Munya said the other two berths should be ready in two years, all costing Sh48 billion.

"We are Here, he said, adding that the project would be a game changer for Lamu County and Kenya. "It is expected to grow the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by at least 3 per cent, he said, and would boost tourism, trade and local livelihood.

Lapsset Corridor Development Authority chairperson Francis Muthaura said the project would help tackle unemployment in Lamu. Already, 400 local youth has been trained in the field of employment, he said, in line with a scholarship program launched by President Mwai Kibaki targeting 1,000 youths.

Lapsset CEO Silvestre Kasuku said the first ship could

The Sh2.5 trillion project includes a 32-berth port; transportation hubs for rail, highway; international airports in Lamu, Isiolo and Lodwar; an oil pipeline from South Sudan connecting Uganda and Ethiopia;