Kenya is behind schedule in the construction of Lamu port which is part of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor Project, officials have said.
Transport PS Paul Maringa and Lapsset director- general Silvester Kasuku however expressed confidence that the first berth of the huge port will be complete by June this year.
This is three months behind schedule because the first of the 32 berths was expected to be ready by March this year.
“That not withstanding the national government is committed to ensuring a speedy construction of the entire Sh2.5 trillion project. Already the project is 42% complete,” said PS Maringa.
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Addressing reporters during a tour of the port site on Thursday, Mr Maringa revealed that the government has been investing Sh14 billion per year into the port project which upon completion will be the largest port in East and Central Africa.
The money, said the PS is being spent directly on the port and development of the appropriate road infrastructure connections that will link it to the rest of the country and outside world.
The Sh866 million LAPSSET headquarters and the port police station have been constructed.
The Lapsset corridor project plan includes a 32-berth port, transportation hubs for rail, highway and international airports in Lamu, Isiolo and Lodwar, an oil pipeline from South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia to Lamu Port, an oil refinery and three resort cities in Isiolo, Lamu and Turkana.
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The project is part of Kenya’s vision 2030 flagship project aimed at promoting regional integration, trade and the industrial growth of the region. The Lamu port and subsequent projects will position Kenya as East Africa’s trade and logistics hub.