Ruto promises to solve Mtongwe ferry delays after public outcry

President William Ruto has assured Mombasa residents that he will address the prolonged delays witnessed in the resumption of Mtongwe Ferry services.

Ruto, while speaking at a town hall meeting at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa on Sunday, stated that he had heard the plight of the residents, some of whom attended the event. 

The Mtongwe ferry, which is a crucial link for residents needing to access Mombasa Island, has been out of operation since 2019, causing significant inconvenience. The situation was worsened by the closure of the Sh1.9 billion Liwatoni Floating Bridge, which acted as an alternative to the ferry. 

The bridge's shutdown has left many residents dependent on the already congested Likoni Ferry crossing channel.

"Yesterday, when I stopped in Likoni, the people there asked me the same question about the ferry," President Ruto said. "The bridge we built was for people to cross, but it had two major problems. First, it caused delays at the port, taking more than 10 hours for ships to pass. Second, the workmanship was not up to standard."

To resolve these issues, President Ruto directed the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to find a solution.

"I have instructed KeNHA and KPA to address these problems. I will come back in a month to ensure the ferry is operational and to discuss alternative access routes to Kwale," he added.

President Ruto also revealed plans discussed with the Japanese Prime Minister during his visit to Japan earlier this year, focusing on the Mombasa Gateway Bridge. This new infrastructure project aims to alleviate the ferry issues at Likoni.

The Sh1.9 billion Liwatoni Floating Bridge in Likoni, Mombasa. (Photo: PCS)

"The Mombasa Gateway Bridge will be similar to the one in Nyali but designed to allow ships to pass. It will be the biggest piece of infrastructure in East Africa, costing 100 billion shillings," he stated.

Meanwhile, approximately 300,000 people who rely on the Likoni crossing channel daily face significant challenges due to the congestion.

The delays have forced thousands of ferry users to adjust their schedules, impacting their daily lives and livelihoods. Mtongwe ferry, which used to operate from 5 am to 10 am and then from 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm, has been suspended since 2019.

The ferry was initially expected to resume services in June 2022. However, this has yet to happen. Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani had informed a parliamentary committee that the facility would be handed over to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) by early June 2022.

The suspension was initially intended to allow for the repair of pontoons, pillars, and gangways on both sides of the channel for Sh28 million. Additionally, Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) had planned to construct ramps worth Sh600 million to facilitate vehicle use, though the channel is currently only used by pedestrians.

Compounding the issue, the island-side pontoon was swept away by waves from the Indian Ocean, leading to a temporary suspension of the ferry services just three months after former President Uhuru Kenyatta relaunched the ferry in 2017.

The relaunch of the Mtongwe Ferry services followed a five-year hiatus caused by the decommissioning of two old ferries due to safety concerns.

However, as the country marks 33 years since the tragic sinking of an overloaded ferry in Mtongwe, which killed 272 out of the 400 people on board, residents are expressing frustration over the lack of progress in improving ferry services.