The Kenyan government is keen on maintaining the new transit market through the port of Lamu to Ethiopia. To make this assurance, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) in charge of transport, Mr. Kipchumba Murkomen thanked the Ethiopian government for choosing to use the Port of Lamu for the delivery of 60,000 tons of fertilizer aboard the Ethiopian vessel MV Abbay II which docked at the port on Thursday last week.
“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure we evacuate the cargo destined to Ethiopia as fast as possible,” said Murkomen.
He made this commitment to the Ethiopian delegation at a consultative meeting attended by, among others, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Capt. William Ruto, Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority Director General Mr. Stephen Ikua, Kenya National Highways Authority Director General Eng. Kung’u Ndung’u, Lamu Governor Hon. Issa Timamy, Lamu Senator Hon. Joseph Kamau, Lamu Woman Rep. Hon. Monica Muthoni, Lamu County Assembly Speaker Hon. Azhar Ali Mbarak and senior officers of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Earlier, the CS and his delegation inspected the Gamba section of the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road, which was adversely affected after being swept away by floods due to heavy downpours.
He said alternative routes are being explored to ensure the Ethiopians get their fertilizer on time.
Addressing the meeting on behalf of the Ethiopians, Ethiopia Maritime Authority Deputy Director General Mr. Firaol Tafa appreciated the efforts and commitment of the Kenyan government.
“The commodity we have is very key, and we have to deliver it timely to reach within the next 10 days. The success in delivery of this cargo is very important for our use of this corridor, which we are operating with speed,” he added.
Speaking at the Port of Lamu, where he witnessed the ongoing offloading of fertilizer, Murkomen was glad to note that this was the first cargo through the port destined for Ethiopia.
“The journey for the growth of the LAPSSET Corridor has properly begun. I want to thank the LCDA Director General, Mr. Ikua the KPA Managing Director, Capt. Ruto and other agencies for their role in ensuring that the corridor functions,” he added.
Ethiopia has largely imported cargo through the Djibouti Port. It also has access to another sea route through the newly constructed port of Berbera in Somaliland, but its efforts to seal a deal with this new port headed in the wrong direction early this year due to strong opposition from mainland Somalia since Somaliland, which although autonomous, has not been globally recognized as an independent state.
Ethiopia’s decision in February to use the Port of Lamu has been heralded as a breakthrough for Lamu Port, which was constructed to mainly serve South Sudan as well and which has previously been seen as a white elephant project.
The maiden vessel was received by the Lamu Governor, Issa Timamy and KPA managing director, Cap. Ruto.
MV Abbay II’s arrival coincides with KPA’s recent acquisition of three ship-to-shore gantry cranes, an investment poised to enhance operational efficiencies at the commercial port.
The fertiliser consignment will undergo swift unloading and packaging at the quayside before commencing its delivery through the corridor to Moyale town, and onward to its final destination in Ethiopia.
There have been heightened activities to make the Lamu Port fully operational. LCDA recently rolled out plans to establish a special economic zone (SEZ) with the search for a consultant to draw up a master plan for land use.
The agency said in a request for proposal (RFP) that the special zone wanted to attract firms dealing in food and beverage, textiles, leather, automotive, warehousing, and logistics.
“The key objectives of the master plan preparation for the SEZ include, but are not limited to creating a basis on which future physical and land use development plans within the SEZ will be prepared,” the agency said in the RFP.
The consultant will also identify sectors that are likely to thrive within the SEZ and design the infrastructure to enable the zone to open up the Lamu Port.
Tax incentives offered to firms operating in SEZs and the location at the port are expected to attract firms to the zone and create more jobs.
This article was published by Githua Kihara, an editorial consultant for FEAFFA’s Freight Logistics Magazine. For any inquiries, please contact us via email at editorial@feaffa.com or freightlogistics@feaffa.com, or reach out to Andrew Onionga directly at onionga@feaffa.com / +254733780240.
