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Reprioritise Lapsset to unlock its full potential
The Ariel View of the Hindi-Junction to Kililana’s Lamu Port site access road under construction in 2020. The Lapsset Corridor Access Road has failed to make meaningful progress owing to frequent al-Shabaab attacks that have left scores of construction labourers on the project dead.
Over a decade since its inception, the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor, a Kenya Vision 2030 flagship project, has lacked the strategic focus required to realise its transformative potential.
This neglect, which has slowed its progress, is starkly highlighted by the recent Cabinet resolution proposing the dissolution of the Lapsset Corridor Development Authority.
Such a move risks undermining a project of national and regional significance, designed to serve a population of over 200 million regionally and significantly boost Kenya’s GDP.
A project of such immense scale and promise demands dedicated governance. Global success stories, such as Morocco’s Tangier-Med Port, underscore the critical importance of robust institutional frameworks.
Managed by the Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA)—an equivalent of the Lapsset Authority—Tangier-Med has become a vital hub for international trade, handling millions of containers and connecting Morocco to over 170 ports worldwide.
Realising Lapsset’s ambitious vision requires bold action, strategic focus and substantial capital investments. With the right approach, the project could surpass the projected Sh250 billion in annual trade revenue and create more than two million jobs by 2030.
To position Kenya as a global competitor through Lapsset, the government must strengthen the project’s governance structures to effectively oversee investments across diverse areas.
These investments include fostering strategic partnerships with global leaders in technology, research and infrastructure. Such collaborations could integrate advanced technologies—including IoT, AI and machine learning—into logistics, transportation and energy systems, enhancing operational efficiency and attracting foreign investment.
Private sector participation, supported by international financial institutions and regional bodies, is equally critical. Sustainability must remain central to Lapsset’s vision.
The project offers Kenya a unique opportunity to lead in green infrastructure development. Renewable energy sources such as offshore wind turbines and floating solar farms could power the corridor, advancing Kenya’s carbon neutrality goals.
Mangrove restoration in Lamu could serve as a vital carbon sink while green logistics solutions, including electric cargo vehicles, would position Lapsset as a global benchmark for sustainable infrastructure.
Another crucial area is cybersecurity. Robust security frameworks are essential to safeguard critical infrastructure and data, fostering trust among global stakeholders.
As the global economy shifts towards more interconnected and efficient trade routes, Lapsset presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity with transformative potential.
However, without prioritisation commensurate with its Vision 2030 flagship status, this potential is at risk.
The government must, therefore, as a priority, refocus its efforts, reconsider the proposed dissolution of the Lapsset Authority and commit to sustained and substantial investments to unlock the project’s full potential.
Mr Farah is a Development Practitioner based in Nairobi. [email protected].