Kenya to give five countries port land

Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu commissions one of the five boreholes expected to provide water for the Industrial Park being set up in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha. [Standard]

The Government intends to give neighbouring countries large tracts of land in Naivasha as construction of a dry port begins.

A fortnight after Kenya offered South Sudan 10 acres in the area, fresh details have emerged that other countries are lining up for the free land.

According to documents seen by The Standard, only neighboring Tanzania will be left out as Kenya dishes out the prime property.

This is because Tanzania, like Kenya, is not landlocked.

The documents indicate Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo will all be allocated space in Naivasha, although the acreage is yet to be determined.

When Uganda President Yoweri Museveni visited Kenya, the Government offered him 1,000 acres near Kedong Ranch.

Kenya is building a dry port and an industrial park in Naivasha to complement the Standard Gauge Railway, which is snaking its way across the town's outskirts.

Five boreholes

“The map showing how the East African countries have been allocated land has already been presented before Cabinet and it is only a matter of time before it is released to the public,” said a senior Government officer who declined to be named.

While visiting the area three months ago, Water Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu said five of 12 boreholes that are expected to provide water for the dry port and the industrial park have already been sunk.

Mr Irungu said the Government has set aside Sh700 million to construct a water supply system, adding that Sh50 million will be used to equip the five boreholes.

“We expect water supply to the entire economic zone by August,” Irungu said.

The development comes after residents from the Maasai community, who had earlier opposed the port project, pledged their support.