Port Of Mombasa’s second terminal during construction phase. Photo www.gcaptain.com
The building of the first three berths in the multi-billion shilling Lamu Port project is now 20 per cent complete.Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera said the government will allocate Sh10 billion to the project in the next financial year.The government has already paid Sh4.6 billion to the contractor while another Sh2.9 billion would be paid before the end of this year, he said.Last year, he added, the government financed the construction of the berths at a cost of Sh3 billion, saying the project would cost the exchequer a total of Sh48 billion.“We expect the construction of the first berth of the Lamu port to be completed by June 2018,” the PS said.In an interview in Mombasa, Mr Nyakera said the construction of the second and third berths are expected to be completed in 2019 and 2020 respectively.“The government is determined to achieve the construction of a second port in Lamu to supplement the port of Mombasa,” he explained, adding that the project was progressing well.He noted that the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor is one of the key projects the government was implementing to boost trade between the country and neighbouring countries of Ethiopia and South Sudan.“Lamu Port will not only offer services to the country, but also to landlocked countries of Ethiopia and South Sudan,” he added.On the other hand, Mr Nyakera said, the government has set aside Sh10 billion for the construction of the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road to connect the Lamu Port to Mombasa port city.