The Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project, also known as Lamu corridor is a transport and infrastructure project in Kenya that, when complete, will be the country's second transport corridor.
Kenya's other transport corridor is the Northern Corridor, which links Mombasa to Uganda, passing through Nairobi and much of the Northern Rift.
LAPSSET Corridor Map
The LAPSSET Corridor Project is the first single integrative infrastructure Project the Government has initiated and prepared under Vision 2030 Strategy Framework without external assistance.
Kenya is spearheading the development of the LAPSSET Corridor to strengthen the country's position as a gateway and a transport and logistics hub to the East African sub-region and the Great Lakes region to facilitate trade, promote regional economic integration and interconnectivity between African countries.
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The project was initially conceived in 1975 but never took off due to various reasons. The project was later revived and included in Kenya Vision 2030.
Objectives and Key Components
Designed to enhance trade and connectivity between Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, the LAPSSET project seeks to spur economic growth, promote regional integration, and improve the livelihoods of the countries involved.
The LAPSSET is designed to strengthen connectivity between East African nations.
It includes several key components:
- The construction of a port at Manda Bay, Lamu, which will serve as a major trade hub.
- A railway line connecting Juba, South Sudan, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to improve regional trade.
- A highway to facilitate smoother road transportation.
- Oil pipelines in South Sudan and Ethiopia to transport crude oil efficiently.
- An oil refinery at Bargoni, Kenya, to process the region’s oil resources.
- Three new airports to enhance air travel across the region.
- The development of three beach towns to boost tourism and local economies
Project Costs and Funding
In 2009, the cost of LAPSSET was estimated at US$16 billion. Estimates from 2015 put the cost of the project at between US$22 billion and US$23 billion.
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The seven key infrastructure project components of the LAPSSET Corridor Program require substantial amounts of resources, with a budget estimate of US$24.5 billion, equivalent to KSh.2 trillion at current exchange rates, in construction costs.
The Government has prioritized the participation of the private sector in the development of LAPSSET Corridor infrastructure through infrastructure bonds and equity participation, among other money market instruments.
The Government has so far allocated KSh.4.2 billion in preparation for the commencement of construction works for the first three berths.
The government is also in the process of mobilising more resources from its own revenue resources as well as from private sector investors through equity and debt including bonds while mobilisation of more funds through equity and debt participation by investors for the construction of the first three berths and its associated infrastructure.
Progress and Current Status
Some basic LAPSSET infrastructure has been built (a police station and harbor office in Lamu and lengthening of the Lamu airport runway).
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The construction of LAPSSET's main components (ports, pipelines, roads, railways) is currently ongoing with construction of the first berth at Lamu Port completed in October 2019.
The government undertook groundbreaking for the LAPSSET Corridor Program at the Lamu Port site on 2 March 2012.
Afterward, it commenced construction activities for various infrastructural facilities and services aimed at progressing the implementation of the LAPSSET Corridor Project.
As of October 6th 2025, approximately 88 km of this stretch have been completed, 17 km had been recorded by February and a further 71 km added in the past seven months.
Lamu Port fast emerging as a key player in East Africa’s maritime trade
President William Ruto’s inspection earlier this year flagged early works, and since then the additional 71 km push signals both technical momentum and political commitment.
A consortium of companies led by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) was reported to have won the bid for construction of the first three berths at Lamu port.
Although Lamu Port has successfully completed the first four berths, the project’s success is still dependent on the construction of crucial connecting roads, both in Ethiopia and from the port itself.
Road Projects
The LAPSSET road projects will run from Lamu to Isiolo and onwards to Juba and Addis Ababa through Moyale.
The road from Lamu will pass through Hola and Bura to Garissa. From Garissa, the main branch will run to Isiolo, while a second branch will run off to Mwingi and Matuu for the exploitation of coal in the Kitui Basin.
Isiolo will be linked to Nairobi through one route, to Nakodok near Lokichogio via another, and to Moyale via the third route.
Southern Sudan will be in charge of constructing a route from Nakodok to Juba, while Ethiopia will construct a road from Moyale to Addis Ababa.
Construction and upgrading of the 136 km Isiolo - Merille road commenced in 2007 and the road was finished in 2011. The road was upgraded into a two-lane tarmac road.
The 136 km Isiolo - Merille River Road constitutes the first section of the 505 km road from Isiolo to Moyale, which is part of the road linking Tunduma in Southern Tanzania with Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The project construction works are complete.
The 121 km Merille River - Marsabit Road constitutes the second section of the road from Isiolo to Moyale and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The road begins at Merille River and runs in a northerly direction and terminates at Marsabit.
Construction works for this section has progressed at 10% having commenced in January 2013 and is scheduled for completion by January 2016 and is being funded by the European Union.
The third section (123 km) begins in Marsabit at the junction with the road C82 and runs in a northerly direction and terminates in Turbi.
Construction works for the fourth section, the Turbi - Moyale Road, have progressed to 11.5% completion, having commenced in October 2012 for a period of 36 months.
In addition to the above, the governments of Kenya and South Sudan working together with the World Bank, recently completed feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs for the Lokichar - Nadapal - Torit - Juba Road.
Furthermore, the Government of Kenya is currently considering mechanisms for participation by private sector investors to deliver the Lokichar - Isiolo - Garissa - Lamu Road and Lamu - Garsen Road through Engineering, Procurement, and Construct (EPC).
Railway Projects
A railway line will run from Lamu to Juba, a distance of 1,720 km (1,070 mi), and will be capable of handling trains with speeds of up to 160 km/h (99 mph) for passenger trains, and perhaps 120 km/h (75 mph) for freight trains.
In January 2024, Kenya Railways Corporation estimated that development of the railway projects would cost the government at least Ksh2.4 trillion (US$16 billion).
The link from Lamu to Isiolo will cost Ksh523.05 billion (US$3.49 billion), while the link from Isiolo to Moyale will cost Ksh476.7 billion (US$3.178 billion).
Other Infrastructure Projects
Continued discovery of oil resources within the region have led to the planning of pipelines within the LAPSSET framework. The pipeline is expected to cost $4 billion.
With these developments, the original plan and design for the crude oil pipeline has to be reviewed to accommodate these new discoveries.
The pipeline will now evacuate crude oil from Lokichar Oil fields in Kenya, Lake Albert Oil fields in Uganda and oil fields in South Sudan.
In this event, the Lokichar to Lamu crude oil pipelines will be the trunk crude pipeline to accommodate crude oil from Uganda and South Sudan. Crude oil terminal tank farms will therefore be built at Lokichar and Lamu to manage the logistics of pumping crude oil through the pipeline as well as into the loading into ships for export.
In order to support the development of the crude oil pipeline, the Government has identified the need to simultaneously construct the Lamu-Lokichar Road alongside the pipeline.
The government recently completed lengthening of Lamu Manda Island Airport runway from 1.1 km to 2.3 km. Improvement works are already complete for the airport terminal building.
Preparations are at an advanced stage towards the construction of a parallel taxiway and aircraft apron area to improve capacity of the airport.
The Government has completed construction works on the 1.2 km Isiolo Airport runway. Construction works are currently ongoing for Airport Terminal Building which is scheduled for completion by end of 2014.
The Isiolo resort city is to be established under a public private partnership at a cost of KSh.18.9 billion/=.
In 2012, the Isiolo County Council was asked to set 2,600 ha (6,500 acres) of land aside for establishment of the resort city.
The Kenyan government has prioritised the provision of appropriate infrastructural service aimed at supporting the massive investments planned for the LAPSSET Corridor.
Construction of electric power transmission line has commenced to deliver electric power connection to key LAPSSET Corridor areas such as Garissa, Isiolo and Turkana.
Already construction of 132 kV transmission line from Seven Folks/Kindaruma to Garissa is ongoing; construction of 132 kV transmission line from Mount Kenya region to Isiolo is ongoing.
In addition to the ongoing physical works along the LAPSSET Corridor, the Kenyan government has commenced a comprehensive plan for the provision of social infrastructure and services.
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