Ferry passengers reject Mwakwere ferry fare plan

Transport minister Chirau Mwakwere’s proposal that ferry passengers be charged Sh1 a trip continues to elicit mixed reactions.

Mr Abdalla Bakari says not all people can afford to pay for ferry services everyday and says the minister’s idea is not noble.

“The situation is bound to bring more problems to those who do not have money, and yet they have to cross the channel to look for jobs,” he adds.

Another commuter, Mr Mohamed Baradia, says he would not accept the charge should it be introduced. He wonders what criteria Kenya Ferry Services will use for various people if Mr Mwakwere has his way.

The commuters wonder why they should be charged yet they pay tax to the Government, which, they argue, should offer the services for free.

“We are always taxed; that money they take from us as tax should be used to buy new ferries instead of charging us,” says a woman commuter who identifies herself only as Jane.

Mr Mwakwere who has come under heavy criticism over the vessels’ frequent breakdowns, points out that KFS, which manages the ferries, could raise up Sh6 million a month if the charge was imposed.

He notes that Tanzania, which charges a fee for ferry services, manage its vessels very well and acquires modern ones. The KFS managing director, Mr Isaac Kamau, says the trend everywhere in the world is that the people pay for services given them.

If the people wanted better services, he argues, they would consider participation by contributing “something small.”