Panic at Likoni ferry as police shoot in air
Passengers on Mv Likoni along the Likoni crossing channel on January 27, 2016. There was panic at the Likoni channel on Wednesday when police shot in the air to control impatient commuters scrambling for ferries. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- The police officers, who were on the mainland side, shot in the air twice after the commuters became rowdy following long delays in boarding ferries.
- However, this did not deter the hundreds of impatient commuters who started jumping over the walls of the waiting bay.
- Two ferries, the Mv Kwale and Mv Kilindini, had been set aside for motorists but the commuters forced their way on board, causing chaos.
- Likoni OCPD Willy Simba said there were no injuries during the stampede and urged commuters to be patient whenever the ferry was delayed.
There was panic at the Likoni channel on Wednesday when police shot in the air to control impatient commuters scrambling for ferries.
The police officers, who were on the mainland side, shot in the air twice after the commuters became rowdy following long delays in boarding ferries.
However, this did not deter the hundreds of impatient commuters who started jumping over the walls of the waiting bay.
Two ferries, the Mv Kwale and Mv Kilindini, had been set aside for motorists but the commuters forced their way on board, causing chaos.
“We were tired of waiting but the shooting was uncalled for. An elderly woman fell to the ground and could have been seriously injured.
Kindly remove the officer who fired the shots as he is unable to control his temper,” said Ms Catherine Wambui, a passenger on the Mv Likoni.
Likoni OCPD Willy Simba said there were no injuries during the stampede and urged commuters to be patient whenever the ferry was delayed.
“The police were doing their work. The breakdown of ferries is beyond their control,” said Mr Simba.
FERRY WITHDRAWAL
The early morning stampede was caused by the withdrawal of the Mv Nyayo on January 24 for a new engine.
In a press release, the Kenya Ferry Service said the vessel had been expected back in service on Thursday but the engineers had not yet finished working on it.
Normally, four ferries operate during the morning and evening peak hours but only three were in service.
To make matters worse, the Mv Kwale was also later grounded with a mechanical problem, leaving only two vessels in operation.
Speaking to Nation at the Mombasa Island ramp, KFS acting managing director Bakari Gowa said the Mv Nyayo would be deployed before the end of day.
“I have spoken to the engineers and asked them to release the vessel as soon as possible. We believe things will be better before noon,” he said.
Apart from Wednesday’s stampede, operations at the channel have improved three weeks after the sacking of former managing director Musa Hassan Musa.
More than 300,000 people and 5,000 vehicles use the channel daily.
