LAPSSET: The Grand Infrastructure Dream Linking Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan

The Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor was officially launched on March 2, 2012, by the former President Mwai Kibaki, alongside the South Sudan President Salva Kiir and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The groundbreaking ceremony, held in Lamu County, marked the beginning of what would become Kenya’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project since independence. Envisioned under the country’s Vision 2030 development blueprint, LAPSSET seeks to transform Kenya into a major transport and logistics hub for Eastern Africa, linking the Indian Ocean to landlocked neighbors Ethiopia and South Sudan.

At the heart of this transformative initiative is the Lamu Port, designed with 32 deep-water berths to handle large cargo ships and decongest the busy Mombasa Port. Construction began in 2014, and by 2021, the first three berths had been completed and commissioned for use. The port’s strategic position at Kenya’s northern coast provides a shorter, more efficient trade route for Ethiopia and South Sudan, enhancing regional trade and positioning Kenya as a global maritime player.

The broader LAPSSET Corridor encompasses a 1,500-kilometer highway, 1,500-kilometer oil pipeline, and 1,700-kilometer standard gauge railway, stretching from Lamu through Isiolo and branching toward Juba and Addis Ababa. These components are designed to stimulate growth in Kenya’s northern and eastern regions, areas that have historically lagged in development. This mega project will attract investments, create jobs, and improve access to markets.

Over a decade since its inception, progress on LAPSSET has been steady but gradual, with key infrastructure now taking shape. The project continues to receive both government and private sector support, with a strong focus on sustainability, security, and regional cooperation. Once complete, the LAPSSET Corridor will not only revolutionize trade and transport across East Africa but also serve as a powerful symbol of Kenya’s vision, ambition, and commitment to inclusive growth.