Roads Transport and Public Works Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that the Lamu-Garissa Highway will be completed by February 2025.
The Lamu-Garissa –Isiolo road is a crucial off take route for the LAPSSET Project, connecting Lamu Port to Ethiopia and South Sudan as well as hinterland markets along the LAPSSET Corridor Counties.
He further stated that the Government is keen to ensure completion of the 257km road section in Lamu as it provides a gateway to the LAPSSET corridor and provides connectivity to other parts of Kenya through a future railway and highway.
Once completed, the road is likely to cost the taxpayer Sh 60 billion following President William Ruto’s directive last year to have the Lamu-Garissa road upgraded from Murram to bitumen standard.
The road is currently being built by the Chinese Construction Communication Company, with the road expected to provide an immediate contingency route for the transport of 60,000 metrics tonnes of fertilizer meant for Southern Ethiopia.
His remarks come following a high powered meeting between Kenyan transport and roads officials and the Ethiopian maritime delegation led by Ethiopian Maritime Authority Director General Engineer Abdulber Shemsu over the recent docking of the first commercial ship at the Lamu Port.
Ethiopia has opted to use the Lamu Port to bring in its cargo meant for its Southern region highlighting the growing importance of the LAPSSET initiative and further amplifying the need to ensure that the road network along the Northern Corridor is up to par.
“The docking of Ethiopia’s MV Abby II arrived at the Port of Lamu, laden with 60,000 tonnes of fertiliser, cannot be understated as it heralds a second logistics route through Kenya’s second-largest maritime hub,” he said, adding that political and financial commitments have been made to ensure that the LAPSSET corridor and especially the Lamu-Garissa road is completed in time.
He further assured the Ethiopian delegation of adequate security for trucks plying the route while taking the fertilizer to Southern Ethiopia
So far there are 110 trucks parked in Garissa awaiting to come to Lamu with another 24 expected to leave the county in transport of the Ethiopia’s fertilizer which is due later this month ahead of the coming planting season.
Flanked by a coterie of Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), Lapsset Corridor Development Authority (LCDA), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and security officials the Transport and roads CS traversed both the Lamu-Garissa Highway as well as the Lamu-Witu Garsen Highway for which he stated that resources will also be allocated towards its rehabilitation following how it has been cut off due to the recent floods that have ravaged the country.
“We will need between Sh25 to Sh30 billion to ensure that the roads destroyed by the floods are brought back to shape not to mention that most of the murram roads have also been washed away by the current floods,” Murkomen said.
The CS further acknowledged that road rehabilitation in the coming financial year will be a delicate balancing act following the country’s projected revenue generated from fuel levy currently stands at Kshs 70 billion only.
“Between moving forward with the development of roads, and the rehabilitation of the preexisting ones, our ministry will have its work cut out,” he said.
Murkomen however lauded the unified commitment by Lamu leaders who, he stated, have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that the LAPSSET initiative thrives.
“Lamu leaders have stated that with the Lamu Port coming to life, the job opportunities available should first go to the Lamu resident youths,” the Roads and transport CS underscored.
Sentiments echoed by Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who stated that for devolution to work in the county, the jobs at the Lamu side of the LAPSSET project should first consider Lamu youths.
“The national government should ensure that the opportunities, especially with the Special Economic Zone area, go mostly to Lamu residents,” Timamy said.
Sentiments echoed by Lamu Senator Joseph Githuku who stated that the national government should prioritize giving jobs to youths especially from marginalized areas.
“Lamu can only grow if its residents are supported by ways of ensuring that they have job opportunities, security as well as roads,” Githuku said.
The legislator expressed optimism over the national government’s continued commitment towards seeing the LAPSSET initiative succeed, with the investments being made towards modernizing Lamu into a credible logistics hub.
Lamu Women Representative Monica Marubu in her remarks called on the roads and transport ministry to act fast towards rehabilitation of the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road, noting that Lamu residents are likely to suffer from high commodity prices if the poor state of the road persists.
By Amenya Ochieng
