In February, the government had announced that one of the first three berths would be complete by June.
Mr Thuita said currently, the construction of all the first three berths is at 46 per cent complete.
Mr Maringa also expressed confidence that all the three Lapsset terminals (berths) at Kililana will be completed by the end of 2020.
Kenyans will have to wait a little longer for the completion of the first berth at the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor project.
In February, the government had announced that one of the first three berths would be complete by June.
But speaking to the Nation on Tuesday, Lapsset Corporate Affairs Officer Benson Thuita said they are confident that the first berth at the Lamu Port will be completed by the end of this year.
The first three berths at the Lamu Port cost about Sh48 billion and currently, the construction work is ongoing at Kililana area in Lamu West.
46% COMPLETE
Mr Thuita said currently, the construction of all the first three berths is at 46 per cent complete.
“We had announced that the first berth at the Lamu Port would be complete by June this year. However, a project of such magnitude cannot be hurriedly completed like that. Maybe we expect the first berth to be ready by the end of this year and not in June which has already passed. In fact the construction work at the port is at 46 per cent complete,” said Mr Thuita.
In February when the Lapsset board led by Transport Principal Paul Maringa and Lapsset Director General and CEO Silvester Kasuku toured the region, they announced that the project was 42 per cent complete with the first berth expected to be ready by this year.That means for the past five months, only 4 per cent of the work has been done.
SPEEDY CONSTRUCTION
According to Mr Maringa, the national government is committed to ensuring a speedy construction of the Sh2.5 trillion project which he termed as the largest port in East and Central Africa.He noted that the government has been using Sh14 billion every year in ensuring progress at the port.Mr Maringa also expressed confidence that all the three Lapsset terminals (berths) at Kililana will be completed by the end of 2020.He also stated that the government is pursuing the development of the appropriate road infrastructure to connect the port to the rest of the Lapsset.
