Updated September 19, 2025- The project entails the construction of three international airports in Isiolo, Lamu and Turkana. These airports will primarily serve the planned establishment of resort cities in these areas. The construction of these airport also seeks to give the country’s transport sector great impetus by creating efficiency in the transport and logistics sector. The Isiolo Airport is complete. The project’s EIRR is 20.7%.
The Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia (Lapsset) Corridor Development Authority is reportedly looking for a consultant to help in the development of Lamu Special Economic Zone in Kenya.
Project Factsheet
Name: Lamu Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
Location: Lamu County, Kenya, on the Indian Ocean coast.
Implementing agency: LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority (LCDA)
Total area: The SEZ covers a total area of 820 hectares.
Cost: $491million
Key infrastructure:
- Lamu Port: A new deep-water port with a planned capacity of 28 berths. As of recent reports, three berths have been constructed and are operational. The port is designed to be a major trade and transshipment hub for East Africa.
- Highways: Interregional highways connecting Lamu to Isiolo, and further to Juba (South Sudan) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), providing seamless connectivity for landlocked countries.
- Railways: A new standard gauge railway line connecting Lamu to Isiolo, and eventually to Juba and Addis Ababa, to enhance transportation efficiency.
- Oil pipelines: Crude and product oil pipelines are planned to transport oil from production sites in Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda to Lamu Port for export.
- International airports: The LAPSSET project includes the construction of international airports in Lamu, Isiolo, and Turkana to support the planned resort cities and improve air transport logistics.
- Resort cities: The project also envisions the development of three resort cities in Lamu, Isiolo, and Turkana to boost the tourism sector.
The consultant will mainly help develop a detailed master plan design for the project. This is according to a Request for Proposal (RFP) floated by the LCDA in May 2024. The master plan as per the RFP should indicate the broad land use development plan. It should be characterized by a zone for industrial, trade, commercial, office and residential use among others.
According to the authority, the development of the Master plans and prototypes will be based on a phased implementation framework.
Who qualifies for the Lamu Special Economic Zone consultant job
Preference will be given to candidates who have an overall understanding of Special Economic Zones as well as the existing policies. This is according to the Lapsset Corridor Development Authority.
The candidate, the authority said, should demonstrate experience in master planning SEZs and working knowledge of the sector. Furthermore, the authority said that the candidate should also be competent in designing masterplans and developing similar designs related to specific experience in the sector. They can be a single firm or a consortium.
The best candidate will be selected under the Quality and Cost Based Selection method and in a format as described in the Request for Proposal. The selection process will be guided by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act 2015.
The mandate of the selected consultant
The qualifying firm(s) will be expected to prepare master plan designs, prototypes and implementation plans. All these will guide the zoning development of the infrastructure and physical structures of the Lamu SEZ.
They will include plans and elevations for industrial, commercial, residential and public utilities among others based on the identified land uses and zones within the the project site. The project site, which is approximately 5,200 acres is located within the proposed Lamu City in Lamu County, Kenya.
Among other things, the consultant will in addition be required to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Lamu SEZ plan. The SEA will be conducted under the National Guidelines for SEA and the Environmental and Social Considerations Act.
About the Lamu Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
The Lamu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a pivotal component of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Program. It aims to establish a world-class economic zone in a bid to drive industrial development as well as economic growth.
The SEZ will provide physical and business development service facilities that will support local and foreign enterprises as well as facilitate their growth in various industrial sectors. In addition, it will help expand and diversify the production of goods for domestic and export markets. It will also promote value addition, and attract both local and foreign investments. Furthermore, it will promote local entrepreneurship by supporting SMEs and enhancing technological innovations.
Noteworthy, the Lamu SEZ seeks to attract firms dealing in food and beverages, clothing, textiles, and apparel facilities. Leather manufacturing, lumber and wood, warehousing and logistics as well as automotive industry players are also expected to benefit from the project.
Similar Projects
In a similar project, the Vipingo Special Economic Zone is also gearing up following a recent investment from KCB Group and Afreximbank. The development of SEZs at the Kenyan coast will generate income and create many jobs which will be a boost to the region’s economy.
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