Grapevine

Delayed completion of roads hurt transit business at Port of Lamu

A section of the Kenya-South Sudan link road. [Courtesy, Twitter]

The Port of Lamu has failed to attract transit business due to delayed completion of major roads linking it to Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Stakeholders also say the facility, whose three first berths were launched in 2021, has not gained its footing as a transshipment hub because it has not been marketed well.

Despite concerted efforts by State agencies to position the port for trade, Lamu has handled one ship for Ethiopia. No ships for South Sudan have been offloaded at the facility despite the Horn of Africa countries being touted as beneficiaries of the port.

Yesterday, former Lamu County Council Chairman Hassan Albeity said delayed construction of 257 km Lamu-Ijara-Garissa and 83 km Ijara-Sangailu-Hulugho roads had affected the port’s business.