Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) has withdrawn services at the Mtongwe crossing channel again after breakdown of its three vessels at the Likoni crossing channel.
This comes even as it emerged that the delivery of the second ferry purchased from Turkey by the government has been delayed following a court case which suspended the construction of the vessel.
“Because of those breakdowns, we have suspended the Mtongwe services because we need a maximum of four ferries to operate at the Likoni ferries at any given time,” said KFS Managing Director Bakari Gowa.
Ferry users have continued to protest over delays caused by frequent breakdowns and withdrawals of some of the vessels. Ferry used at the Mtongwe channel has been moved to Likoni to ease traffic.
“We are tired of these delays at the ferry, we suspect there is some fishy deals going on at the ferry. It cannot be that every day we are told that ferries are being taken for repair. The government should investigate whether there is a corruption cartel using the said repairs to steal public funds,” said Ali Kibwana, a ferry user.
“They bought a new ferry, Mv Jambo but this has not improved the situation, it is getting worse. There more than meet the eye here, delays have become the norm. I live less than a kilometer from the ferry but I have to arrive here at 5am for me to get a ferry to be in the office in the Island by 8am,” said Khadija Mwinyi, a hair stylist.
Three of the old ferries Mv Kwale, Mv Kilindini and Mv Harambee have been at the dockyard for repair. The endless breakdown of the ferries has irked residents who claim that a corruption cartel was using the vessels to siphon money from the public under the guise of repair.
The frequent breakdown has also caught attention of Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki who termed the breakdown as “questionable”.
“I urge the KFS to do more and you must ensure we do not have three ferries breaking down at one go. We can understand if one ferry breaking down but we will question or we will wonder if three ferries breakdown in a day,” said Achoki.
Achoki announced start of random security checks on all vehicles using the ferries and asked for cooperation from motorists.
“We will guard the ferries 24 hours because we have upscale security at the ferries.Even when it is undergoing repairs, we shall have police guarding the ferries,” he said.
