Construction begins on Kenyan port

   Construction has begun on a new large port near Lamu island in southeast Kenya.
   The AFP wire service said Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir were on hand Friday to mark the official start of the $24.5 billion project that will include a railroad and highway linking the countries, and a pipeline for exporting crude oil from South Sudan to a refinery in Lamu.
   The Daily Nation newspaper in Kenya said the project has been dubbed LAPSSET (Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport and Economic Development Corridor), and “it is expected to provide an additional transport and economic development corridor for the three countries.”
   It said the new port will start with construction of three berths, but is eventually expected to have 32.
   A coalition calling itself Save Lamu protested the construction launch. It said it’s concern about the “lack of information, consultation, and mitigation with the implementation of the proposed port.”
   AFP said the project “is expected to be funded by regional financial institutions, governments and international lenders, with China believed to have major stake.”