This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
January 8, 2020 - The construction of Lamu Port, a key infrastructure project in Kenya, has been suspended by China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) due to security concerns.
The company, which is working on the project, has released 2,000 workers who were working on the three berths of the port, citing concerns over their safety.
According to a memo released by the contractor, the construction work has been suspended until January 13, 2020, due to insecurity.
The suspension of construction works at the Lamu Port is likely to affect the construction of the Lamu Port Access link road, which has one side of the dual carriage way completed.
The project, which is one of the key Vision 2030 projects, has been projected to be one of the key socio-economic drivers that will open up the Northern Corridor.
However, officials from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have intimated that the National Government has given assurances that all government installations have been adequately secured.
“Consultations are currently underway to ensure that the suspension is lifted immediately,” Engineer Abdullahi Samatar, General Manager of Infrastructure Development at KPA, said.
Lamu County Commissioner, Macharia Irungu, has also stated that the National Government will continue to provide adequate security for public installations.
“The National Government would like to assure the Chinese contractor that although their concerns are founded, we have the capacity to ensure that no attack happens on our key installations at the crucial Lamu Port,” Irungu stated.
