Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has confirmed the full operationalisation of the Port of Lamu, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s infrastructure expansion under the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project.
Speaking after witnessing three cargo ships simultaneously offloading goods at the port, Chirchir described the event as a “powerful signal” that the LAPSSET vision is firmly on course. “This is no longer a promise; Lamu Port is operational,” he said.
The Lamu Port, developed as part of the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority masterplan, serves as Kenya’s second deep-sea gateway after Mombasa. It is designed to ease congestion at the Port of Mombasa, diversify trade routes, and open up Northern Kenya to new economic opportunities.
Integrated with airports, rail networks, oil infrastructure, and planned resort cities, the port is positioned as a cornerstone of Kenya’s modernization and regional connectivity strategy.
Chirchir noted that with Phase I berths now operational, cargo volumes are projected to reach 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2027. “The Lamu Port will ease pressure on the Port of Mombasa while unlocking a strategic gateway for Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the wider Horn of Africa, hence strengthening Kenya’s competitiveness in global maritime trade,” he said.
The operationalisation of the Lamu Port marks a significant step toward realizing the LAPSSET Corridor’s goal of transforming regional trade and logistics, positioning Kenya as a central hub for East and Central Africa.
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