Transport crisis ensues as two ferries withdrawn from Likoni

The Likoni channel was plunged into a crisis on Tuesday when two of the five vessels were grounded.

Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) managing director Hassan Musa Hassan, however, said the two ferries — MV Nyayo, which is the biggest, and MV Harambee — had been withdrawn for routine maintenance.

This resulted in a massive traffic jam as the mass of commuters waiting to cross stretched for nearly a kilometre on the mainland in the morning. It took up to one hour for them to get a ferry.

Vehicle queues also stretched beyond Kona ya Polisi bend and to Star of the Sea High School on the island.

Mr Musa’s statement read: “We would like to inform the public two of our ferries are currently undergoing routine maintenance and are thus out of service. To this effect, we are likely to witness jam logs for passengers and vehicles using the Likoni crossing channel.

“In the meantime two ferries — MV Kwale and MV Kilindini are in full operation.”

The statement did not indicate when the vessels will resume operations as uncertainty reigned at the channel that is used by at least 300,000 commuters and 5,000 vehicles daily.

“MV Nyayo is expected to resume operations once it has been repaired. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused and we thank all ferry users for their patience and understanding,” added the statement.

NO POSITIVE CHANGE

Services across the channel have been deteriorating over the past few months.

Several visits by top government officials, including those from Transport ministry, as well as MPs have not resulted in any positive change.

Mr Musa has been complaining that all the four vessels, plus the MV Likoni, are too old. Some of them are more than 30 years old.

In the budget estimates read last week, Sh3.8 billion was set aside to buy two new ferries that are expected to arrive in the country in November next year.

During his recent tour of the channel, National Assembly Transport Committee Chairman Maina Kamanda said seven ferries are required to effectively serve the increasing people using the vessels.

The problem has been compounded further by the fact that there is no ferry across the Mtongwe channel, after a ferry capsized more than 15 years ago, killing more than 200 passengers.

Mr Musa has ruled out the possibility that vessels would be taken to Mtongwe, whose residents now use the Likoni channel. “My management has approached the county government to help us acquire a small ferry,” Mr Musa said.

Congestion is worse in the morning and evening. Commuters have been complaining of harassment by guards at the channel. The most affected are the elderly and women.

Last week, the guards manhandled Nation correspondent Mwakera Mwajefa who reported the incident to Likoni OCPD, Mr Willy Simba. He warned that the guards would be arrested if they mistreat the public.