The Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) initiative, valued at over $25 billion (about Ksh3.2 trillion), was envisioned as a transformative infrastructure project linking Kenya with landlocked Ethiopia and South Sudan through modern highways, railways, pipelines, airports, and resort cities.
However, the deteriorating security situation near the Somali border, particularly along the Lamu-Garissa route, has brought development to a near standstill. Since construction began in 2021, at least 16 people—including Kenyans and foreign engineers—have been killed in militant attacks, while dozens more have been injured.
Despite its ambitions, only 10% of the Lamu-Garissa road has been paved. Military escorts are now required for even small advances in construction, averaging just five kilometers at a time.
Lamu Port, designed to host 23 berths as the project’s core anchor, currently has only three completed and remains underutilized. Officials report that activity at the port is limited to minor cargo movements, such as livestock exports.
Experts warn that key elements of the corridor, including railway lines, may never be realized unless sustained security is achieved. Alleged sympathies for militants among local populations and the complex terrain have made military operations more difficult.
Kenya’s government had hoped LAPSSET would stimulate economic growth, enhance regional trade, and establish the country as a gateway to East Africa. For now, however, insecurity continues to overshadow those ambitions