The construction of a section of the Sh10 billion LAPSSET between Lamu and Modigar in Garissa County that had been halted by residents of Sariraha village, Korakora location is now set to resume.
The over 500 residents had threatened to disrupt the project demanding to be first compensated for land where the road will pass.
Addressing the press after a meeting with the residents, Area County Commissioner, Boaz Cherutich, said that the residents agreed to appoint representatives to a committee comprising of relevant government agencies to identify ‘the project-affected persons after which the process of compensation will follow.
“We have agreed with the residents that from tomorrow the contractor will resume work. This is a huge project funded by the National Government at a cost of Sh10 billion covering a distance of 257 kms from Lamu to Modigar,” Cherutich said.
“The contractor had started and had done some good work. We are appealing to the residents of where the project will pass, particularly Garissa Township Constituency, that they cooperate with the government and support KENHA in implementing this project,” he added.
Cherutich said that once completed, the project will open up this area wholly because communication will be easy and the security officers will be able to move to all places of the county faster.
Garissa County Secretary, Sheikh Abdi, who was present, cautioned the residents against disrupting the project. “This is an important flagship project for the President that he intends to launch and commission sometime in May next year before he leaves office,” Sheikh said.
“While we are looking for compensation for our communities, let nobody try to stop this project. Let the contractor do his work,” he added.
He reiterated that Garissa County Government is ready to ensure that the project is given an enabling environment while ensuring that the people are compensated where applicable.
The Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) transport corridor is Eastern Africa’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project bringing together Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
The mega project consists of seven key infrastructure projects starting with a new 32 Berth port at Lamu (Kenya), Interregional Highways from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba (South Sudan), Isiolo to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Lamu to Garsen (Kenya) and a Crude Oil Pipeline from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba and Product Oil Pipeline from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Addis Ababa.
In addition, there will be an Interregional Standard Gauge Railway lines from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba, Isiolo to Addis Ababa and Nairobi to Isiolo. Three International Airports, one each at Lamu, Isiolo, and Lake Turkana and three Resort cities, one each at Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana and a multipurpose High Grand Falls Dam along the Tana River.
By Jacob Songok
