Mombasa woman rep blasts ferry services over safety lapses, urges swift action
Likoni and Mtongwe crossing channels are key transport routes in Mombasa, used daily by thousands of residents and traders.
Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed has strongly condemned the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for the ongoing neglect of safety issues at the Likoni and Mtongwe ferry crossings.
Zamzam voiced her frustration that, years after government directives to procure a new ferry and install essential safety equipment like life jackets and life buoys, no tangible progress has been made on the ground.
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“It is unacceptable that, years after the government ordered a new ferry and essential safety equipment, no tangible progress has been made. Thousands of commuters remain stranded daily, relying on ageing, poorly maintained ferries with defective ramps, exposing them to grave danger,” she said.
Ferry tragedies
Zamzam warned that the deteriorating state of the ferries was putting lives at risk and dishonouring the memory of victims of past ferry tragedies, notably the Mtongwe disaster of 1994, where over 270 people died after a ferry capsized just 40 metres from shore.
The woman representative further accused the KFS and KPA of incompetence and called on the Ministry of Transport to take immediate action.
“This blatant disregard for public safety is not only irresponsible but a direct insult to the memories of those who perished in the Mtongwe tragedy. Our people deserve safe, reliable, and efficient ferry services. I will not stand by as lives are put at risk due to incompetence and neglect.”
Likoni and Mtongwe crossing channels are key transport routes in Mombasa, used daily by thousands of residents and traders.
While previous administrations promised modernisation and fleet expansion, delays have persisted, with commuters frequently enduring long waits and technical malfunctions.
Zamzam is now pushing for an overhaul of the Kenya Ferry Services management and renewed accountability from all relevant agencies.
“Kenyans deserve safe, reliable ferry services, not incompetence and neglect,” she said.
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