The Kenya Port Authority has changed construction timeline of Lamu Port. It will now be completed in December 2021 from the earlier announced date of December 2020.
This is linked to a statement from the Kenya Ports Authority board chairman, Joseph Kibwana. He said the contractor has requested for more time citing disruptions caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Kibwana adds that earlier this year the contractor had to redraw plans because he needed to adjust work schedule to accommodate the present Public Health guidelines and maintain their workforce from contacting COVID-19. Construction work continued at the port, even at the height of the pandemic, although at a slower pace.
Kibwana said the Ports expects the completion of the three berths by October 2021 with the commissioning later in December of that year. The contractor is asking for more time to complete construction yards in the second and third berths having delivered the first berth in October 2019. The second and third berths were completed in July this year thus bringing the project to 80% completion.
The three berths cost 48 billion Kenya Shilling since construction commenced in 2016 and measure 1.2 kilometers long and 18 meters wide. The first three berths will each have a capacity to dock two ships measuring 220 meters in length simultaneously.
The port is part of the 2.5 trillion Kenya Shilling Lamu Port and Lamu-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPPSET) project that Kenya intends to use to enhance regional integration by linking Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan. The project will have special economic zones ideal for an industrial hub, freight logistic hub, and Information-Communication and Technology parks.
