Major Progress on Lamu-Ijara-Garissa Road Sparks New Land Compensation Row

The Government of Kenya has confirmed that the construction of the Lamu-Ijara-Garissa road, a critical component of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, is now 55.88% complete. This development comes as the State intensifies efforts to resolve long-standing land acquisition hurdles that have historically slowed the pace of the project.

In a recent update, the Government Spokesperson's office indicated that land compensation processes are actively underway. Verification has been finalized for a five-kilometre stretch located in the Kausara area, where payments are currently being scheduled for the affected landowners. This move is intended to clear the right of way for contractors to proceed without the legal and social friction that has characterized earlier phases of the corridor development.

Beyond the immediate payouts in Kausara, the government is conducting a comprehensive review of the Resettlement Action Plan for other key settlement zones along the 257-kilometre route. These reviews are essential for identifying project-affected persons who may not hold formal titles but have established residences or livelihoods within the proposed road reserve. The technical teams are reportedly focusing on ensuring that the relocation of these communities aligns with both national laws and international social safeguard standards.

The Lamu-Ijara-Garissa road is part of the larger Sh17 billion contract aimed at upgrading the LAPSSET infrastructure to all-weather gravel standards. The project, which also includes various spur roads such as the Bodhei-Kiunga and Ijara-Hulugho sections, is designed to provide the primary inland link from the new Lamu Port to the northern regions of Kenya and onward to the border with South Sudan.

Field reports show that heavy machinery, including motor graders and soil compactors, remains active on several fronts between Lamu and Garissa. The work involves significant earthworks and the installation of drainage structures to ensure the road remains passable during the rainy seasons, which have frequently cut off the North Eastern region from the coast in years past.

Despite the steady progress in physical works, the project continues to face scrutiny regarding the speed of its social mitigation programs. Civil society groups have previously called for greater transparency in how compensation figures are calculated and the timeline for disbursement. The current focus on the Kausara stretch is seen by industry observers as a pilot for how the State intends to handle the more complex, densely populated settlement zones as the road nears its completion phases.

The completion of this road is expected to significantly reduce travel times for cargo moving from the Port of Lamu. Currently, logistics providers face high costs due to the poor state of existing tracks. By bringing the road to a 55% completion mark, the government appears to be signaling to regional trade partners that the corridor is becoming a viable alternative to the traditional Northern Corridor from Mombasa.

As the resettlement reviews continue, the Ministry of Roads and the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority are under pressure to maintain the current momentum. The synchronization of engineering works with the legal clearing of land remains the project's most significant challenge as it enters the final 45% of its construction schedule.