Lamu- Garsen road is expected to be completed in the next 6 months according to LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority, which said in a tweet that the project is now 75 percent complete. The construction started in February 2017.
The Sh10.8 billion project is undertaken by the H-Young East Africa Limited Construction Company in collaboration with the GIBB Africa Limited.
The project entails the upgrade of the 113km Garsen-Witu-Lamu road and an additional 19km of the Mkunumbi-Mpeketoni loop road — all of which are upgraded to international trunk roads of bitumen standards.
Last year, Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) head of communications Charles Njogu said that the road was faced with unique challenges, including insecurity caused by al Shabaab militants, a situation that hampered its progress. The project was supposed to be completed last year.
In addition, 10 KM dual carriageway road linking the port to the main highway is complete hence providing the necessary linkage for cargo out of the port. This road can be used for the early evacuation of cargo for local importers from the port with shippers having a choice to either take their cargo through Garissa – Thika Nairobi or via Malindi.
The first 3 berths of the Lamu Port are set for commissioning by end of October this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta said last year when he toured the port accompanied by Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister of Ethiopia.
Completion of the first 3 berths of the Lamu Port will require a road off-take system to provide connectivity from Lamu to Moyale, to Hawassa and to Addis Ababa, spanning about 2,000 kilometers.
The 505KM Lapsset Highway from Isiolo to Moyale was completed over 4 years ago and has significantly transformed transportation enabling faster and cost-effective movement of goods and people along the new corridor.
This is expected to be connected to Lamu via the 536KM Lamu – Garissa – Isiolo highway hence interconnecting the region, spurring regional trade and enhance economic development.
Lamu-Garsen road will provide the initial off-take route, and will serve as a good link to Ethiopia from Isiolo through Garissa.
