Security Threats Cast Doubt Over Lamu Port’s Future

More than a decade since its groundbreaking, the Lamu Port project, once seen as a cornerstone of Kenya’s regional trade ambitions, is now at risk of stagnation, as persistent militant attacks and local tensions continue to disrupt progress.

The port is part of the broader Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor, a Sh3.7 trillion infrastructure plan aimed at boosting Kenya's position as a gateway to East and Central Africa. But despite the fanfare that surrounded its launch in 2012, only three berths have been completed, with the remainder of the port largely idle.

Security remains the biggest obstacle. Al-Shabaab insurgents operating near Kenya’s northeastern border have frequently targeted workers and transport routes, prompting construction delays and a heightened military presence. Contractors, including Chinese firms hired to build key components of the corridor, operate under armed protection.

Beyond the security threat, some local residents say the project has done little to address economic inequality in the region. Feelings of exclusion and neglect have, in some cases, driven youth into the hands of extremists.

The combination of poor infrastructure, community mistrust, and security threats has led experts to question whether LAPSSET will ever fulfill its intended purpose.