Provincial
Mwakwere proposes ferry fee
A bus disembarks on from ferry Mv Kilindini on the mainland Likoni seaside. Photo/LABAN WALLOGA
Posted Sunday, January 24 2010 at 14:01
Kenyans may soon start paying for ferry services if a proposal by a Cabinet minister is adopted.
Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, who has come under heavy criticism over frequent ferry breakdown, called for commuters to start paying Sh1 per person to raise funds for buying new vessels.
Mr Mwakwere said the Kenya Ferry Services could raise up to Sh6 million per month if the charge is introduced.
“If Kenya Ferry Services were to charge people Sh1 per person, then they will be making Sh200,000 per day and Sh6 million per month,” the minister said.
Mr Mwakwere said after the arrival of ferries currently being built in Germany, a plan ought to be put in place on how to acquire new ferries in future. One ferry, he said, costs Sh480 million.
Over 200,000 passengers and 3,500 vehicles cross the Likoni channel daily. In the past three months, four ferries have experienced serious mechanical problems leading to traffic delays on and off Mombasa island.
Speaking over the weekend at La Marina restaurant in Mtwapa, the minister said there was need for better systems of ferry management.
According to Mr Mwakwere, Tanzania acquired modern vessels after commuters paid for the services. “It is not easy to get money from the Treasury,” said Mr Mwakwere adding that it was the responsibility of the public to decide whether to follow the Tanzanian system or not.
MV Likoni and MV Kwale, currently being built in Germany, are scheduled to arrive in Kenya on March 27.
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Mwakwere needs to go he has proven to us once again that he cannot run this office we need someone who will help the common mwaninchi not reap them off.ksh 1 is alot why cant he come up with a better idear and besides we all know if we are to start paying the 1 shs we shall never have new ferries instead our money will go in wrong pockets as usuall.. Fire him.
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Paying the one shilling per trip is not the problem. The problem is whether or not this money will be used accordingly. I read in the media recently that over 400 million shillings belonging to the Ferry corporation went unaccounted for by the Board overseeing the ferry services. Those responsible were only dismissed from work and that was it. The current chairman Mr. Kingi should tell us more about the missing cash!
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I have seen the idea work at Kigamboni in Dar. However, there must be at least 4 ferries during peak hours to ease congestion, and the KRA, not KPA or the Ministry, should directly collect the funds to keep in trust.
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