By The Weekly Vision Team
Safety certificates for all the ferries operating on the Likoni Channel have expired, posing significant risks to passengers who rely on these vessels to cross daily. The certificates for MV Safari, MV Kwale, MV Likoni, and MV Nyayo expired on May 7, even though these are currently the only operational ferries. Meanwhile, the certificates for MV Jambo and MV Harambee lapsed on February 1 of this year.
MV Safari and MV Kwale, acquired from Turkey, have experienced frequent breakdowns—at least eight times between January and February. Despite being relatively new, MV Safari manufactured in 2020 has broken down six times, and MV Jambo, built in 2017, has experienced two breakdowns. MV Likoni and MV Kwale, built in 2010 and operational for the past four years, have also faced issues, breaking down four and twice, respectively. On the other hand, MV Harambee, which was manufactured in 1990 and has been in service for 34 years, has broken down only once, and MV Nyayo, also built in 1990 and non-operational, has had no breakdowns.
According to documents from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) submitted to the Senate, the Authority currently operates four ferries: MV Safari, MV Jambo, MV Likoni, and MV Kwale. MV Nyayo and MV Harambee are undergoing maintenance, including drydocking and machinery replacement.
During a Senate committee meeting chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, KPA Managing Director William Ruto reported that over the last five years, there have been only two fatalities and two injuries, attributing the breakdowns to minor issues. He noted that repairs were typically completed within a day, except for MV Jambo, where a propeller replacement took five days. Ruto assured that MV Nyayo and MV Harambee are set to be replaced with newer, higher-capacity ferries. MV Kilindini has already been decommissioned, and a new vessel is planned for the 2023-2024 financial year.
Ruto explained that some of the breakdowns were due to the ferries operating around the clock, unlike older models that operated for only 12 hours. However, senators, including Thang’wa and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, expressed scepticism, questioning the frequency of breakdowns in new ferries and labelling the issues as significant. Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkei and Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi also raised concerns about the expired certificates and the legality of continuing operations.
The KPA report detailed specific breakdowns: MV Safari experienced issues on January 11 due to engine overheating, with several subsequent breakdowns attributed to similar causes. MV Jambo faced problems on February 10 due to overheating and propeller failure. MV Likoni had breakdowns related to propeller oil loss and grounding incidents. MV Kwale had minor issues, including a failed prow and propeller oil leakage. Lastly, MV Harambee experienced a breakdown on February 19 due to lost securing bolts on the engine.
The situation highlights a pressing need for improved safety measures and timely maintenance of the ferries serving the Likoni Channel.
