Lamu port will change lives, says PM

The envisaged Lamu port will change the lives of the local community, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said.

Mr Odinga urged locals to support the project instead of opposing it due to fear of losing land.

"This project will change lives here. We are looking at a project with the capacity of the port of Dubai. The land you are talking about is just a drop in the ocean compared to the benefits you will get," he told residents during a tour of the construction site Tuesday where he was accompanied by members of the Cabinet sub-committee on Infrastructure.

"Luck knocks once, not twice, and today, luck is knocking on the doors of people of Lamu. As a friend of the people of Lamu, I want to urge you to embrace this project. The benefits will far outweigh the monetary compensation you are asking for."

The PM said the port was the most serious project to be undertaken by the government since independence and warned the provincial administration against authorising sale of land in the area.

The project is set to be commissioned on March 2 as a joint project of the Governments of Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The PM said the road from the port through Garsen to Isiolo would be at par with the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Earlier, Mr Odinga issued 1,200 title deeds to Siu residents. He said survey works are over and the government will soon be issuing titles in Mokowe, Mpeketoni, Swahili village and Ras Kitau.

He was accompanied by ministers Chris Obure (Public Works), Otieno Kajwang (Immigration), Amos Kimunya (Transport), Franklin Bett (Road), James Orengo (Lands), Paul Otuoma (Sports), Kiraitu Murungi (Energy) and Njeru Githae (Metropolitan Development).