On 2nd March, 2012, H.E President Mwai Kibaki,H.E Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and H.E President Salva Kiir jointly launched the Lamu Port in Mokowe-Lamu on the Indian Ocean coast.

The Three presidents  shake hands to symbolise a unity of purpose in the project.

The port is part of the Lamu Port -South Sudan-Ethiopia (LAPSSET) project. Dubbed the most ambitious infrastructural undertaking on the continent, at an estimated cost of some $25bn, the project is a vital transport and economic development corridor for the region. Although it has commenced with three countries, LAPSSET is envisaged as a bridge that will link the Indian Ocean side of the continent to the Atlantic coast and to the north it links into the Northern Corridor into Djibouti, Sudan and Egypt.
The LAPSSET project comprises 32 port berths connected to the region by thousands of kilometres of new rail tracks, pipeline and a highway.  This corridor will also have 3 resort cities, a number of airports, and a manmade dam (the grand dam).
Among those  who witnessed this historic event was Amb Monica Juma and Amb Cleveland Leshore, Kenya’s Ambassaor to South Sudan, Ministers, Members of Parliament, including those from Lamu and other high level officials from the three countries.

The Heads of State laying the foundation stone for the administrative building of the port	President Kibaki leads his colleagues in planting a tree

The Three Heads of State read the placard that commemorates their joint launch of LAPSSET.	President Salva Kiir, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Zenawi salute the crowds after the launch of LAPSSET

The Three presidents raise their national flags

Aerial view of the proposed Lamu port site	The routing of the corridor