News
Commuters hurt in Likoni ferry stampede
Passengers overload Mv.Kilindini at the Likoni crossing point. Photo by Laban Walloga.
Posted Tuesday, January 6 2009 at 22:16
A number of commuters were injured on Tuesday as they struggled to enter a ferry operating between the South Coast and Mombasa Island.
One of the three ferries that operate on the Likoni Channel broke down early in the morning causing commuters to fight for space in the only operational vessel. The third ferry had broken down earlier.
More 170,000 pedestrians and 3,000 vehicles cross the channel every day. Trouble started at 5am when the biggest vessel, Mv Nyayo, broke down in the middle of the channel, delaying commuters for about an hour.
Mr John Juma, who was in the vessel when it stalled, said they spent about an hour in the vessel. According to him, the ferry stalled between 4.40am and 5.35am while crossing from the mainland to the island.
The vessel was later towed by Mv Harambee to the island side.
There was panic after the ferry’s public address system collapsed due to a power failure.
According to a mechanical expert at the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) who declined to be named, both engines of the vessel failed, causing the ferry to stall.
After the vessel developed problems, KFS withdrew a ferry from Mtongwe, Mv Pwani, to help clear the traffic jam at Likoni.
Near-stampede
Thousands of Mtongwe residents, who depend on the ferry to commute to work, were inconvenienced by the withdrawal of the ferry.
The high number of Mtongwe residents at the Likoni channel increased the numbers of commuters leading to a near-stampede as people clamoured to board the working ferries.
Kenya Ferry management was unwilling to comment on the matter.
Marketing and corporate affairs manager Elizabeth Wachira directed journalists to the operations manager, Mr Antony Mazungu, who also declined to give any comment.
He directed all inquiries to the managing director, Mr John Joel Ria.
“I know we have a problem but I am not talking to the media,” he said.
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Submitted by AHMED BURANPosted January 08, 2009 02:22 PM
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Submitted by boniras72
Dual carrige from nyali towards malindi.A road to connect direct from off south coast to moi airport.We need ring road and new bridge from show ground to fort jesus.The makupa bridge was build by the british the traffic flows normal two lanes each side..since indipendence 46yrs we built the nyali bridge only 2lanes that is stuffed wit traffic now.we africans have a problem.shame to the transp minister whos from coast.
Posted January 08, 2009 12:26 AM -
Submitted by jacky
I smell trouble Ms x:Kenyans lives, or a fat salary and mercedes which one is more worthy MP X:Do i care about the Kenyan people as long as its not my wife, who cares about those old goddamn ferries(my buddies and is salary could build a bridge greater than the golden bridge) Ms X:Psycho
Posted January 07, 2009 08:00 PM -
Submitted by SJ502
‘More 170,000 pedestrians and 3,000 vehicles cross the channel daily!’ .... i.e. 173,000 votes. It’s like 8 constituencies put together. There is strength in numbers. This problem can be solved, and in a day! The prolonged Likoni ferry distress is a political creation, a clear display of the narrow and scattered local leadership. Mombasa should be a world class city, not a messy village with rickety ferries. It requires futuristic thinking!
Posted January 07, 2009 06:12 PM -
Submitted by wanasen
This is yet anaa disaster thats coming soon. Wait nd see. Kenya has turned a hell of place..everything is out of order. Those people we thought would cure this country have become self centred not caring Kenyans' welfare anymore. Kibaki is now very tired, Martha is busy preparing for 2010, Michuki is loosing his senses by commenting silly things like the MPESA thing while i dont think you know what you are talking about. These were the key people in Parliament while you let us down. I wonder whether i will ever vote..may be for Kalembe Ndile.
Posted January 07, 2009 01:04 PM
RSS
Any second thousands of innoncent kenyan lives can be lost due to the negligence of the Government. With the watch and a miracle can happen from God . This time we shuould not ask for compenasation which never comes but for the Government to resign due to their failure to stop a man made disaster.