At least nine commercial ships have docked at the new Lamu port-LAPSSET since it was officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 20 this year.
The first ship MV CAP Carmel, docked at the first berth of the port on the same day signifying the readiness and capability of the new facility in matters shipping.
Eight other ships have docked at the port between May and December this year among them MV Seago Bremerhaven, MV Spirit of Dubai, MV Seago Pireaus, MV Seago Istanbul, Ionian Express, MV Zuhra II and MV Amu 1 from Zanzibar.
The MV Amu 1 has docked at the port twice this year.
The Lamu Port manager Abdullahi Samatar said the facility had already proved it is key in boosting trade in Lamu, Kenya, East Africa and globally.
He said global shipping lines have continued to show interest in using the port as their transit point for various cargo.
“The port started operations in May and so far, we have already had nine commercial ships. This is a show of promise and capability. We have many shipping lines that are still interested in using the port to transition their cargo to various destinations. The Lamu port is a success story,” Samatar said.
The opening of the port has seen a ripple effect on many other sectors in the county including the transport and land sectors.
On the day the President launched the port, he also officially opened the Sh10.8 billion Lamu-Garsen road that had been under construction since March 2017.
Today, the road has enabled smooth transportation of road cargo to and from the port, while at the same time enabling transportation of building materials for the remaining berths at the facility.
The road has equally improved Public Service Vehicles transportation and provided a feeling of safety for road travellers coming into and out of Lamu.
Previously, al Shabaab militants had taken advantage of the poor road network to ambush and launch attacks on PSVs and security vehicles on the road resulting in deaths.
The improved condition of the road has also seen an influx of PSVs seeking to ply the route and an equally high number of passengers seeking to explore Lamu by road.
The port presence has also seen the growth of an active real estate sector as investors seek to acquire land in Lamu for various businesses in line with the port.
The demand for housing units has also gone up with an increased number of workers at the port who are seeking accommodation.
The port presence has seen land prices soar from a minimum of Sh250,000 years back to Sh2.4 million-plus an acre depending on how close the land is from the port and township roads.
-Edited by SKanyara
