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The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is planning a dry port in Moyale and a ferry service across Lake Turkana, working with Marsabit and Turkana county governments, to open the LAPSSET corridor to more trade with Ethiopia and South Sudan, The Standard reported on October 28, 2026. Both projects are at the site-assessment stage; no budget, contractor or start date has been announced.
What is planned
| Project | Location | Status (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Dry port (inland container depot) | Moyale, on the Ethiopia border | Site assessment |
| Ferry service with cargo and passenger jetty | Across Lake Turkana, linking Marsabit and Turkana | Site assessment and route selection |
KPA managing director Capt William Ruto and Marsabit Governor Mahmod Mohamed visited proposed sites. The governor said the team was looking for locations for a ferry landing ramp, passenger holding area, shelters and other civil works.
Why a Moyale dry port matters
A dry port lets cargo be cleared inland instead of at the coast, so trucks can move containers on one customs document from Lamu or Mombasa to the border. For Ethiopia, a large landlocked market, Moyale is the main crossing on the Isiolo-Moyale road. A dry port could cut clearance time and costs for exporters and importers on both sides and support businesses in Marsabit County.
“This planned establishment of the dry port and ferry services… is largely part of the country’s vision to spur economic growth and build trade links connecting Kenya and Ethiopia and South Sudan under the Lapsset corridor project,” Capt Ruto said.
Why a Lake Turkana ferry matters
Travel between the east and west shores of Lake Turkana now means long road journeys. A ferry could move people, fish, livestock and goods between Marsabit and Turkana, open markets for fishers and traders, and support tourism. Governor Mohamed called it a “game changer” for the region.
Questions still open
- Cost and financing, including whether private operators will run the ferry.
- Timelines for design, approvals and construction.
- Environmental safeguards for the lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Road links to make the dry port useful.
Also: Kenya re-elected to oil pollution fund committee
Kenya was re-elected to the Executive Committee of the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Funds at meetings in London on October 20–23, and Kenya Maritime Authority’s Stellamaris Muthike was re-elected second vice-chair of the 1992 Fund Assembly for a fourth term. The funds compensate victims of tanker oil spills.
For more on Kenya’s transport build-out, read about the Rironi-Naivasha highway opening.
FAQ
Is the Moyale dry port under construction?
No. As of late October 2026, KPA was still assessing sites.
Which counties will the Lake Turkana ferry link?
Marsabit and Turkana.
Updated October 31, 2026.
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