The LAPSSET Corridor’s Transformative Role

“It is encouraging to see Africa’s public sector recognize that Africa’s future will be determined not simply by economic growth, but by how successful we are in creating accessible pathways to economic prosperity for all Africans everywhere.” with this sentence the founder and chairman of Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu has explained the objective and the purpose of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET). 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, such as: (i) the construction of a port at Manda Bay, Lamu, which will serve as a major trade hub; (ii) a railway line connecting Juba, South Sudan, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to improve regional trade; (iii) a highway to facilitate smoother road transportation; (iv) oil pipelines in South Sudan and Ethiopia to transport crude oil efficiently; (v) an oil refinery at Bargoni, Kenya, to process the region’s oil resources; (vi) three new airports to enhance air travel across the region; and (vii) the development of three beach towns to boost tourism and local economies (Mapafrica, 2017).

The LAPSSET project, launched in 2011, was initially projected to cost $25 billion and aimed to develop a port in Lamu, along with highways, railways, airports, and other key infrastructure connecting the three countries (Italian Trade Agency, august 2024). However, a series of challenges, including changes in political leadership, regional conflicts, and economic downturns, have significantly slowed or even stalled many of the planned developments. The projected investment in the LAPSSET Corridor is approximately half of Kenya’s GDP (baseline investment). According to conservative feasibility estimates, the project is expected to contribute between 2% and 3% of the country’s GDP. In the long term, the LAPSSET Corridor will play a significant role in Kenya’s economic growth, with projections indicating a contribution of between 8% and 10% of GDP (NEPAD, 2016)

The Lapsset Corridor project is a long-term initiative to build key infrastructure in East Africa, including the Lamu port, which will become one of the largest in Africa with 23 berths and a capacity for 1.2 million 20-foot containers. The port will have terminals for agricultural products, livestock, and oil. Oil pipelines will connect to South Sudan and Kenya, with another branch for Ethiopia. A 2,500-kilometer superhighway and a 3,000-kilometer railway will link Lamu to Addis Ababa and Juba, speeding up transport and cutting costs. Three international airports are planned, with Isiolo already operational. A dam on the Tana River will generate electricity for Lamu’s development. A Special Economic Zone will attract investments for port-related industries. Additional infrastructure will improve rest areas, electricity, water, and connectivity.

Since the May 2024 Ethiopia has received at the port of Lamu the first cargo from Morocco with 60 thousand tons of fertilizer. Many more will arrive following the agreements concluded (Oketch, 2024) and to underline the importance of the moment, several authorities from Addis Ababa were also present at the cargo delivery ceremony: the Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amante, the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Dange Boru, the Executive Director of the Shipping and Logistics Company, Bensiso Amelo, and the Head of the Maritime Authority, Abdulber Shemsu.

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. Additionally, the routes initially planned for the LAPSSET Corridor traverse arid regions, which are often affected by insecurity, requiring a stronger government presence and enhanced security measures to ensure the safety and stability of the project.

Italian Trade Agency. (Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan) Commit to Lapsset Project, Assure on Viability. ITA Italian Trade Agency, 2024.

MapAfrica. Multinational – LAPSSET – Projet Lamu Port-Soudan du Sud – Ethiopie. 2017

NEPAD & African Development Bank Group. Transaction Advisory Services and Technical Assistance for Lamu Port development. 2016.

Oketch, Willis. “Boost for Lapsset as Ethiopia imports fertiliser via Lamu port” The Standard, 2022.

Lapsset Corridor Project Overview. Lapsset Corridor Development Authority, 2025 https://lapsset.go.ke/.