The Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority (LCDA) represented by the Director General/CEO, Silvester Kasuku and the National Land commission of Kenya (NLC) represented by the commission’s Chairman, Prof Muhammad Swazuri  on 12th January, 2018, signed a Memorandum of understanding that provides a working framework for collaboration between the NLC and LCDA for acquisition of land for the development of the LAPSSET Corridor Infrastructure Projects, to ensure just compensation of the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and prompt access of relevant sites by LCDA or Project Implementation agencies.

NLC is mandated to manage public land on behalf of the National and County governments, the commission also has a mandate on compulsory acquisition of Land under the part viii of the Land Act, 2012 and to ensure just compensation paid promptly in full to all persons whose interests in the land have been determined. LCDA is the body mandated with the policy, implementation, operational coordination and is the technical oversight organ for the LAPSSET Corridor Project; and is also tasked with establishing an integrated implementation plan and oversee the implementation of the LAPSSET Corridor Projects according to the Presidential Order Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 51, Legal Notice No. 58.

LAND ACQUISITION

The LAPSSET Corridor is a 500M wide corridor whose route starts at Lamu (Lamu Port) extends to Isiolo via Garissa and branches from

Isiolo to Moyale (Ethiopian border) and from Isiolo to Nakodok (South Sudan border) as per the diagram on the left.

The Infrastructure projects within the corridor include;-

1. A 32 Berth Port in Lamu intended to unlock logistics and trade and create regional transport hub;
2. Interregional Standard Gauge Railway lines from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Nakodok and Juba (South Sudan), Isiolo to Moyale and to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Nairobi to Isiolo;

• Interregional Highways from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Nakodok and Juba (South Sudan), Isiolo to Moyale and to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia);

1. Crude Oil Pipeline from Juba (South Sudan) – Nakodok – Lokichar – Isiolo – Lamu; and
2. Product Oil Pipeline from Lamu – Isiolo- to Moyale (Kenya) and Moyale to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

Apart from the trunk infrastructure, the LAPSSET Corridor is designed to encompass other economic activities investment infrastructure such as International Airports, Resort cities, Special Economic Zones, Industrial parks, and mineral exploration to generate and harness the economic and business activities for the corridor to bolster the viability and sustainability of the investment.

On 21^st October 2017, The National Lands Commission in pursuance of Land Act no.6 of 2012, part VIII and the transitional provisions contained in section 162 (2) of the same Act published the intention to acquired land for the Construction of LAPSSET Corridor Projects and investment infrastructure which include;-

Lamu Port and Ancillary facilities

Lamu Special Economic Zones

Lamu International Airport

Lamu Resort City

Lamu Port Industrial Zone

LAPSSET Corridor (500 M wide)

Isiolo Resort Cities

Isiolo International Airport

Turkana Resort City

Turkana International Airport

Already LCDA has acquired the title deed for the 28,500 HA, Lamu Port and Ancillary facility area.

The MOU between the two government entities will fast track the land acquisition and just compensation to PAPs process, to make ready the LAPSSET Corridor for private sector entry who have already shown massive investment interests in the LAPSSET Corridor Projects. further to these the government of Kenya has; –

1. Signed an agreement with Lamu Port Consortium for the construction of Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo road whose early works are set to commence within the 1^st quarter of 2018.
2. Signed a Joint Development Agreement with upstream partners (Tullow Oil, Africa oil and Maersk Oil) for a fast-tracked development of the Lockichar-Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline, a project whose investment decision date has been set for December 2018 , when land acquisition, Stakeholder engagement and Environmental studies are expected to be completed.
3. Signed a grant agreement of US $ 1,936,560 with the African Development Bank, to bring on board A Transaction Advisory for private sector partnerships in the development of Lamu Special Economic Zone.