Security boosted at Likoni channel

Scanners and CCTV cameras worth Sh100 million have been installed at the Likoni crossing channel to ensure safety on ferries.

On Sunday, passengers had to pass through the scanners on both sides of the channel before being allowed to board the vessels.

“The channel is used by over 300,000 people and 6,000 vehicles daily and we cannot take chances with security. We had to boost security at the busy channel,” said Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) Managing Director Musa Hassan Musa on the phone.

Apart from that, a police station has been set up in the area, with the officers complementing guards manning different sections of the channel.

“Right now, we are putting up cells for the station to deal with petty crimes such as pickpocketing and mugging within the channel,” said Mr Musa.

When a Nation team visited the island side at midday, the number of bags and small luggage that had been screened by the scanners had reached 32,082. The number of people screened had hit over 100,000.

CABLE CAR

With the frequent delays on the channel, caused by vessel breakdowns, various ideas have been floated.

Among the options is the Sh25 billion Dongo Kundu bypass project. The contract for the first 10 kilometres, which will cost Sh11 billion, has already been awarded to a Chinese firm and the work is expected to start soon.

In a public-private partnership, the KFS has engaged a European firm to begin cable car operations across the 500-metre channel to ease congestion of human traffic.

At the same time, the Mombasa County Government intends to look for Sh30 billion to finance the construction of a modern bridge across the Likoni channel.

According to Governor Hassan Joho, this would provide a permanent solution to the perennial problems on the channel.

“We have already started working with investors to ensure the bridge is built so that we can end the problem experienced by our people,” said the governor.

He said the national government had not indicated how it intended to ease the transport crisis being experienced by ferry users.

Mr Joho said the Sh30 billion needed for the bridge was just a drop in the ocean compared to the Sh400 billion to be spent on the standard gauge railway.

At the same time, the Transport ministry said the cost of maintaining three old ferries was high. As a result, it is planning to buy two new vessels for Sh1.74 billion.

Principal Secretary John Mosonik said the biggest challenge was the overuse of the five ferries to carry commuters and vehicles daily.

He spoke aboard MV Likoni at the KFS mainland jetty on Saturday.

“We have come here to appreciate the efforts and challenges the management is facing. We have given instructions that critical spare parts must always be available to ensure the safety of thousands of commuters using the vessels every day,” he said.

Additional reporting by Galgalo Bocha