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Port of Lamu has received its consignment of relief food donation in a major boost to Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project.  The consignment comprising Sorghum and peas from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) arrived aboard MV African Swan yesterday afternoon.

World Food Programme (WFP) which brought in the consignment said of the 7,300 tonnes, about 4,000 tonnes are Sorghum and 3,200 tonnes are yellow split peas. According to WFP Head of Supply chain in Kenya Shane Prigge, the relief food is meant to be distributed in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, Marsabit and Lodwar as well as the refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab camps.

“This is the first time WFP has used Lamu port to bring in  relief food into the country, Prigge said.

“We are looking to provide support to our operations within Kenya through this food…some of the food will support the refugee operations for the people living in Dadaab and Kakuma and further provide much needed assistance to people who are heavily affected by drought,” he said.

Prigge said WFP is looking forward to bringing more food through Port of Lamu to support humanitarian operations in East Africa.

Standby trucks

“For the next three to four days, African Swan will be discharging the consignment which will then be loaded onto about 300 standby trucks before it is transported through the LAPSSET corridor in what the government considers as a statement of assurance of security along the corridor.

Lamu Port General Manager Vincent Sidai said this is the first time Lamu port has been used to bring in cargo meant for Kenya, terming the move as a major milestone.

“This is good news because it signifies major growth for this port. As WFP have said this is a state-of-the-art facility. Since it started this is the 44th vessel to come to the Port of Lamu. Now we have a fishing vessel coming to the port every week to load fish for export,” he said.