Commuters stranded for hours after ferry breakdown at Likoni

Commuters from South Coast of Mombasa onboard a ferry cross the likoni channel to Mombasa island Friday morning following hours of delays on both sides after three ferries developed mechanical problems. (Photo: Maarufu Mohamed/Standard)

Mombasa, Kenya: A near stampede occurred Friday morning at the Likoni ferry crossing channel following a surge in commuter numbers after two ferries stayed away from service owing to technical hitch.

Kenya Ferry Service (KFS) Assistant Public Relations manager, Harun Mutiso told The Standard that only two ferries, instead of the normal four, were in operation and could not cope with the workload.

“This move was necessitated by slight mechanical hitch as the two other ferries had been under routine maintenance,” Mutiso said.

Crowds of commuters including vehicular traffic piled up on both sides of the cause due to the limited ferry pick up rate leading to commotion.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that a woman and a child were injured in a rush for limited space to board one of the ferries.

Tourists not spared

Tourists headed for the airport to catch flights back home were not spared as several of them were caught up in the ensuing delays.

“I arrived here from Swahili Beach Resort in the South Coast with tourists headed for Italy at exactly 6am but have not moved an inch and my clients are uncomfortable with prospects of missing flight,’’ Stephen Kiarie, a tour operator said.

A fleet of luxurious buses imported through the Port of Mombasa and headed to Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam had been stuck at the Likoni ferry island crossing ramp since 10pm Thursday.

To compound the problem, one of the ferries that had been deployed to help contain the workload, MV Likoni has a malfunctioning prow (door).

It carries passengers only and when it is midstream it has to maneuver and change direction to enable offloading through the second prow which is in perfect condition.

In the meantime, players in tourism industry have reacted sharply to continued inefficient ferry services, terming them a constant blow to the struggling industry.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch Executive officer, Sam Ikwaye said that the Dongo Kundu by pass remains a great initiative only in board and conference hall walls but realities on the ground are leadership that has lost touch with its people.

“If and when it becomes a reality, we will not have the headache of having to undergo delays that seem to be part and parcel of daily ferry operations,” Ikwaye said.

Ikwaye appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider putting tourism on his urgent agenda and help in recovery of the industry through infrastructure projects.

‘’As we allow the gap to widen we may require equal energies and resources to med the rift when we start the recovery process,’’ he said.