This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
The Kisumu Port expansion project, which has been underway since the beginning of the year, is nearing completion. The government has invested a record 3 billion shillings in the project, which is expected to create 10,000 jobs once operational.
According to sources, the construction works at the port are complete, and the state opening ceremony is the only remaining task. President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto, and AU Envoy made a secret visit to the port after the burial of Governor Joyce Laboso, accompanied by top officials who confirmed that the port is ready for operation.
On Monday last week, KPA managing director Daniel Manduku confirmed that they have started taking equipment, including forklift trucks, mobile cranes, and tractor-trailers, to Kisumu to support cargo handling.
“Currently, manual labour is used at the port to transfer cargo stored in the warehouse to vessels. Therefore, we need 15-tonne mobile cranes, forklifts trucks and tractor-trailers to support cargo handling,” he said.
The state is working round the clock to ensure the port opening ceremony is a success, with a number of invitations sent and four Presidents already confirming their attendance. Tanzania’s John Maghufuli, DR Congo’s Felix Tshekedi, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame have all confirmed their attendance, making this the single largest infrastructural project bringing together all the five countries.
Kenyan Report has established that there is an increased activity in the Lakeside City of Kisumu, with top state officials trooping in and out of town to make sure everything goes according to plans. Country’s security agencies are also shifting their base to Kisumu for the duration of the visit as well as for the port security.
On August 15th, the Kisumu Port will open its doors, marking a significant milestone in the region's infrastructure development and opening up Kisumu to the rest of Africa due to its strategic position.
