Lamu leaders urge govt to Fast-track LAPSSET project
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, January 22, 2026Elected leaders from Lamu have called on the government to speed up the completion of the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor.
They have warned that failure to complete the flagship project will pose a threat to the economic growth of regions that the project cuts across, as it was projected.
Speaking while attending a public participation forum at South Lokichar on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the leaders, led by Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, have indicated the need for the county to embrace the opportunities presented by the LAPSSET project and tap them more so in the development of skills and knowledge.
“We need to exploit the opportunity and implement the LAPSSET master plan, and explore the transfer of knowledge to Kenyans by developing manpower. We have the deepest sea in the world, yet we rarely benefit from it. We have not exploited the natural history, and we are losing a lot of opportunities, but let us not lose this oil pipeline opportunity,” Timmamy said.
LAPSSET challenges
While speaking during the event, officials from the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority said the project is a regional undertaking involving three countries, namely Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, acknowledging the fact that it faces corroboration and funding challenges.
“This is a special project between three countries. Our main challenge is that LAPSSET has been moved from one ministry to another, leading to poor coordination and reduced funding,” said the authority’s chief executive.
Challenges and opportunities
The authority also acknowledged that the main challenge facing the completion of the project has been land acquisition and delays in the compensation, leading to the slow progress of the project.
The authority also confirmed to the leaders that the 821 kilometres of pipeline had been designed and mapped, awaiting the commencement of construction, because the project also targets to generate revenue for the country through the exportation and transportation of crude to South Sudan.
Leaders affirmed that the implementation of the LAPSSET project, including the port project, pipelines, railway line and airports, among other amenities, will transform Lamu County and the wider northern Kenya region, which has been considered a marginalized region for a long time.