This archive report was first published on 29 September 2019.
September 29, 2019
Conceived in 2012, the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor was a grand plan to build a modern and expansive port in Lamu, linking up Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo Brazzaville.
However, after seven years, various components of the project have not taken off and may not in the foreseeable future.
The first berth at the Lamu Port is complete, but operations cannot start due to the lack of roads linking it with the hinterland.
Similarly, the international airport in Isiolo, a key pillar of the corridor, lies idle due to minimal human and cargo traffic, raising questions about its continued sustainability.
Various road networks that link the port to diverse destinations have either not started or stalled due to lack of funding, inept contractors, and waning commitment.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed disappointment with the project, a sentiment shared by the public.
At conception, the project looked promising, but the current reality is different. Countries that signed up have since changed course and are pursuing other interests.
For instance, Ethiopia, a major partner, has shifted its interest to the Djibouti Port, which makes economic sense due to its proximity.
Uganda and Rwanda have oscillated between working with Kenya or Tanzania, signaling that they are not indispensable.
The Lapsset project demonstrates the folly of venturing into major infrastructure projects without proper investment plans.
Huge sums of money are being invested without commensurate returns, and it is time to review the status of the project and determine what ought to be done to rescue it.
