Memories of Mtongwe deaths flood back after ferries stall

As frequent ferry mishaps send chilling shivers down commuters’ spines in South Coast, the question now on many people’s lips is: How safe are these ferries that ply the Likoni and Mtongwe channels?

Last Thursday saw mv Kilindini “dance” precariously on troubled waters with human cargo, sparking memories of the 1994 Mtongwe ferry disaster, Kenya’s worst sea accident.

Said regular commuter Suleiman Said: “If Mtongwe (incident) made us cry, I don’t know what Likoni will make us do.”

The chaos and pandemonium witnessed when two ferries broke down calls for urgent and drastic measures to be taken to avert disaster.

Likoni resident and political activist Mwakio Ndau, wants the Kenya Ferry Services Limited (KFS) investigated over its management and operations because the frequency of ferry mishaps is worrying. “There’s need for independent inquiry by marine experts to tell us whether these ferries are maintained as claimed by the management,” he said.

Lifesaver rafts

In case of an accident, many people would die because some of the ferries’ lifesaver rafts are piled and locked together at one side of the vessels. Mr Ndau added: “Except for mv Nyayo where people sit on the rafts, the rest of the ferries they (rafts) are locked together.”

He also questioned why the KFS disbanded its own engineering department that used to repair and maintain the ferries at its own dockyard.

During a normal working day, three ferries operate at peak hours from 6am to 9am before one ferry is released. It resumes at the other peak hours from 4pm to 8pm.

This allows 180,000 people and more than 3,000 vehicles to cross the channel daily, putting a strain on the aging ferries. Mv Pwani has been in service since 1975, for example.

A slight problem on either of the ferries would disrupt business for the billion shillings hotel industry in South Coast that depend on the link to connect Mombasa island to other tourist destinations.

Hotelier Raymond Matiba is concerned that the frequent ferry chaos and mishaps are a threat to tourism, the lifeline of investors in South Coast. “Likoni channel is an essential transport link and any disruption puts at risk the billions of shillings invested here (South Coast),” he said in a telephone interview.

According to him, Likoni Channel has featured in industry meetings quite often. Some of the investors plan to visit the Coast provincial commissioner to discuss the issue and its effect on tourism. “If the PC can make an incognito visit to Likoni Channel during peak hours, he will see what goes on there,” Said Mr Matiba.

He urged the Government to move fast and “do something”, saying delays at Likoni were not only worrying to investors, but also discouraging potential investors from investing in the pristine beach fronts.

Repaired thoroughly