# Kenya, Ethiopia Agree to Fast-Track LAPSSET Projects

> Mustaqbal Media reported March 3, 2024 agreement to review tariffs, address security, accelerate LAPSSET roads. No post-report progress established.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Infrastructure and Services
- Tags: ports, drainage
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/kenya-ethiopia-fast-track-lapsset

## Key points

- On 2024-03-03, Mustaqbal Media reported a Kenya-Ethiopia agreement to fast-track LAPSSET infrastructure and review port tariffs.
- The report describes resolutions and commitments on roads, security, and fertilizer imports, but no executed contracts or funding.
- Since the report, no evidence establishes that any of these items have progressed to implementation.

On March 3, 2024, Mustaqbal Media reported that Kenya and Ethiopia had agreed to fight insecurity, review tariffs, and fast-track completion of infrastructure projects to enable seamless cargo flow from Lamu to Ethiopia. The report cited an agreement reached during a meeting the two governments held on a Thursday, the date of which is not specified in the article.

Kenya Ports Authority will rework port tariffs, Mustaqbal Media reported, as Ethiopia puts in place plans to start using the port 'the month'. The extract is garbled and the intended month is unclear. Tariff amounts and the timeline for the rework were not given.

The report attributes several commitments to the meeting. LCDA Chairman Ali Mbogo and chief executive Stephen Ikua assured traders of security and free flow of cargo. Mr Mbogo said LCDA has made a request to the Kenyan government to consolidate the budget of all LAPSSET components with a view to fast-tracking implementation of the missing links. No budget figure or approval was reported.

Mustaqbal Media quoted Mr Mbogo as saying that security measures were set along the corridor from Lamu to the Moyale One-Stop Border Post to secure cargo, vehicles and project implementers. The report does not provide independent verification of these measures.

The article, credited as sourced from The East African, states that Kenya and Ethiopia constituted a joint technical committee to address issues derailing commercialization of the LAPSSET corridor. The Lapsset Ethiopia–Kenya Joint Technical Committee convened in Addis Ababa concurrently with the 36th Session of the Joint Ministerial Committee on February 21-23, but the year is not specified. Committee membership, terms of reference, meeting dates and budget were not reported.

Resolutions reported by Mustaqbal Media included upgrading the Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo Road to bitumen standard and construction of the Isiolo-Maralal-Lokichar road. No contractor, consultant, funder, cost, start date or procurement process was given for either road.

The report also said the two countries agreed to work on diplomatic and other approaches aimed at enabling the use of the port of Lamu by Ethiopia for the importation of fertiliser. Mustaqbal Media reported that Ethiopia and South Sudan initiated the process for formalisation of engagement with Kenya on delivery of the LAPSSET project, and the two countries committed to collective action to enable use of Port of Lamu as the entry point for cargo destined for Ethiopia. No signed agreement or joint statement is cited for any of these commitments.

The report does not establish what has happened since March 3, 2024. It provides no evidence of executed contracts, disbursed funds, started construction, or Ethiopia's use of the Port of Lamu.

## Questions

### What LAPSSET components are being prioritized?

The report mentions upgrading Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo Road to bitumen standard and construction of Isiolo-Maralal-Lokichar road as resolutions.

### What is Ethiopia's response?

Ethiopia reportedly agreed to work on tariff review, security, and diplomatic approaches, and initiated formalisation of engagement.

### How does this affect Somali port competition?

The report describes efforts to position Lamu as a preferred route for Ethiopia and South Sudan cargo, but no competitive impact is evidenced.

## Sources

- [Kenya to Fast-Track LAPSSET Projects to Woo Ethiopia](https://mustaqbalmedia.net/en/kenya-to-fast-track-lapsset-projects-to-woo-ethiopia/) — Mustaqbal Media, 2024-03-03