Kenya Signs $478 Million Deal To Build Lamu Port Berths‏

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta supervised on Friday the signing of a $478 million deal with a Chinese company for the construction of three Lamu Port berths.



"The construction of the first three berths will cost the government 42 billion Kenya Shillings (roughly $478 million)," President Kenyatta said at the ceremony.



"The government has already set aside 4.45 billion Kenya Shillings (roughly $50.6 million) to immediately commence the construction work," he added.



The contract was signed between Kenya Ports Authority and China Communication Construction Company at the State House, the official seat of the presidency, in Nairobi.



Kenyatta expected the construction of the berths to have tremendous impact on Kenya's development, making the East African country the most attractive transport and logistics hub in the region.



The commencement of the project, he said, reinforces his government's resolve to make infrastructure a key facilitator of Kenya's social and economic development.



"The commencement of the first three berths will also send a strong message to our neighbors of Kenya's commitment to regional trade facilitation and integration," added Kenyatta.



"To this end I am directing the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to finalize the inter-governmental agreement for the development and operation of the transport corridor with South Sudan," said the Kenyan leader.



The three berths are part of the Lamu Port and South Sudan - Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project, a partnership among Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.



"The signing of this contract…is a major milestone in delivering the LAPSSET corridor program as well as achieving Kenya's Vision 2030," said Kenyatta.



"The construction…will present a strong case and trigger for participation of the private sector in construction of the remaining 29 berths and other components of the corridor," he added.



The LAPSSET is divided into seven components; roads, railway, airports, oil refineries, oil pipeline, fiber optic cable and high grand falls that will link the four countries and make up an integrated transport and economic corridor.



By Magdalene Mukami



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Nayrobi