Kenya allocates South Sudan 10 acres of land to build port in Naivasha

Kenya has allocated 10 acres of land to South Sudan to build a dry port for its cargo at the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on Monday.

The President spoke at State House, Nairobi, following bilateral talks with his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir who is on a two-day State Visit.

President Kenyatta assured South Sudan that Kenya is fast tracking completion of the LAPSSET projects to link the two countries; among them being the Lamu Port.

“To further ease the movement of goods consigned to South Sudan, the Kenya Government has set aside 10 acres of land at the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha Industrial Park, for use as a dry port by the Government of South Sudan,” he stated.

“The first berth (of the Lamu Port) will be ready this August while berths 2 and 3 are expected to be completed within the year 2020.”

The President also said Kenya and South Sudan will put more efforts in completing trans-national highways including Eldoret-Lokichoggio-Nadapal-Kapoeta-Torit-Juba Road.

“In pursuit of our shared vision to deepen further our cooperation, it is important we fast-track the implementation of the LAPSSET Corridor Highway, that is, from Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo-Lokichar-Lodwar-Nadapal-Kapoeta-Torit-Juba,” he said.

The two nations also reached a deal to deepen their trade ties including a plan for Kenya to hold a trade expo in Juba in November.

According to the Head of State, the expo will also work as a show of confidence in South Sudan’s economy and expose their products to Kenyan business-people.

The two leaders said they have initiated efforts that will guide amicable resolution disputes that may arise over the shared border and announced that a ministerial team has concluded an MOU on delimitation and demarcation of common borders.

“The framework will provide the necessary guidelines for engagement on boundary matters, which, in the spirit of brotherhood and in recognition of the deep friendship between our States, will always be amicable,” said President Kenyatta.

President Kenyatta also said South Sudan’s stability was a major concern for Kenya and that he would use Kenya’s voice to urge more nations to support the ongoing peace process in the country.

He said the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, if fully implemented, will benefit the entire continent and not South Sudan alone.

On his part, President Kiir said the South Sudan government was happy with President Kenyatta’s assurance that Kenya will use its influence to support the implementation of the peace accord.

“We are delighted that you have assured us that Kenya will exert more pressure for the implementation of the peace accord,” said President Kiir, who is in the country for a two-day State Visit.

President Kiir was received at State House earlier in the morning at an elaborate ceremony that included a 21-gun salute.

The two Presidents first held private deliberations before leading their respective delegations in bilateral talks.

They also witnessed the signing of several memoranda including the Agreed Minutes of the Inaugural Session of the Kenya-South Sudan Joint Commission of Cooperation.

Also signed were MoU’s for Political Consultations and for Joint Commission for Cooperation.

The agreements were signed by Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma and South Sudan Minister for Foreign Affairs Nhial Deng Nhial.