First cargo ships arrive at Kenya’s Lamu port

The first cargo ships have docked at Kenya’s new deepwater port at Lamu which was commissioned on Thursday by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The $3bn facility aims to attract cargo destined for Kenya’s landlocked neighbours, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Kenya is already building roads towards these countries from Lamu.

Concerns have been expressed about security at the port as the Islamist militant group al-Shabab regularly attacks the area.

It is hoped the new facility will ease pressure on Kenya’s heavily congested Mombasa port.

– BBC