Ferries in use outdated

• They should have been replaced 20 years ago, says Transport minister

The Government has admitted its surprise that the “disaster-in-waiting” ferries at the coast are still floating 20 years after their ‘use by’ date passed.

And it is now blaming the food shortage that has hit the country over the last one year for the delay in replacing them.

“When I see those ferries afloat, I am really surprised. But whenever I hear or see that one has stalled midway (the ocean), I am not surprised, I am disappointed because they should have been replaced at least 20 years ago,” Transport minister, Ali Mwakwere, told the press at his Transcom House offices on Friday.

The minister said re-allocation of funds meant for the acquisition of new ferries to the importation of food occasioned the delay in the arrival of the ferries from Germany.

The new ferries, which were initially scheduled to arrive at the coast last month, will now arrive some time in March this year, after starting their journey from Germany on February 27.

“We have paid for the ferries, their transportation and the training of our officers to operate and service them. All factors being constant, they will arrive in the country three weeks after February 27,” he said.

Over 200,000 commuters and 3,500 vehicles use the ferries daily to cross the Likoni Channel.

Total overhaul

Saying the five ferries currently in operation need a total overhaul before they can function well, Mr Mwakwere said even the supposedly ‘new’ ones – MV Nyayo and MV Kilindini – were already too old when they were bought 25 years ago.

“What we bought from the Far East in the name of new ferries were, in fact, second-hand ferries that were then not less than 30 years old,” he said.

“We should commend Kenya Ferry Services for doing a good job of keeping them working instead of condemning them.”

He said the other ferries, MV Mtongwe, MV Harambee and MV Pwani, are over 40 years old and will require grounding for up to six months for refurbishment.

Apart from stalling, the sorry state of the ferries currently in operation on Thursday morning saw commuters and cyclists removing their shoes and walking in water to board them.

This follows the collapse of the prows of the ferries at the channel in Mombasa, which rendered them unable to land at the required position on the ramp.

This not only puts commuters boarding the ferries at risk, but the broken prows also pose an even greater danger when the vessel are crossing the channel.