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Lamu Port records growth amidst transshipment challenges
A crane unloads containers from MV Devon vessel at Lamu Port on June 7, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The Lamu–Ijara–Garissa road is part of the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) project.
- The Lamu Port is a key component of Lapsset, a multi-billion-shillings regional infrastructure project.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has reported strong performance at Lamu Port in 2025, having handled 34 container vessels by June—surpassing the total annual vessel count recorded the previous year.
Speaking on Saturday during the reception of two transshipment vessels, MV Devon and MV Zhong Gu Ri Zhao, Lamu Port General Manager Vincent Sidai said the growth underscores the port’s emerging role as a regional logistics hub.
Since its commissioning in May 2021, the Sh310 billion port has received a total of 106 ships—12 in 2021, four in 2022, 36 in 2023, and 20 in 2024.
Port’s performance in 2025
Despite infrastructure setbacks, including delays in completing the Sh17.9 billion Lamu–Ijara–Garissa Corridor Access Road and flood damage to the Gamba section of the Lamu–Witu–Garsen highway, KPA officials remain optimistic. The Lamu–Ijara–Garissa road is part of the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) project.
“With the road projects nearing completion, we expect greater cargo movement efficiency beyond transshipment,” said Mr Sidai.
Lamu Port General Manager Vincent Sidai speaks to the media at the port in Kililana, Lamu West on June 7, 2025.
Construction of the key corridor road began in April 2021, undertaken by the China Communications Construction Company. It was originally scheduled for completion in May 2023.
Spanning 453 kilometers across insecure and flood-prone areas, the road's delay has hindered the full utilisation of Lamu Port’s potential. However, the port’s performance in 2025 signals a turning point.
Regional infrastructure project
Mr Sidai noted rising interest from international shipping lines and confirmed that more vessels are expected in the coming months.
“Lamu Port is becoming a reliable trade gateway for East Africa,” he said, highlighting its complementary role to the Port of Mombasa.
Captain Abdulaziz Mzee, KPA’s Manager of Pilotage and Harbor Inspectorate, echoed the sentiment, calling Lamu an increasingly attractive option for cargo owners thanks to its deep-water berths and modern facilities.
The Lamu Port is a key component of Lapsset, a multi-billion-shillings regional infrastructure project aimed at improving trade links between Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
