By Patrick Beja

It has been a disaster in waiting, but authorities have curiously refused to respond to numerous concerns.

Scores of commuters at the Likoni ferry crossing were injured and two women fainted in a stampede.

The two women collapsed during the push and shove on the ferry yesterday morning.

They were rushed to hospital in critical condition as commuters blamed the stampede on a shortage of ferries to cope with huge crowds during peak hours in mornings and evenings.

And Kenya Ferry Service (KFS) were quick to deny earlier reports that one of the women who collapsed may have died.

KFS Public Relations Officer Harun Mutiso said the two women were the most affected and were responding well to treatment.

Mr Mutiso said five other people were trampled on in the commotion.

"The commotion occurred when the passenger control gate at the waiting shed was being locked by our guards. The passengers fell down after being pushed as they rushed to catch the ferry," he told The Standard.

Usually, the sick, expectant mothers and children use separate gates to access the ferries.

Yesterday, there was heavy presence of Administration and Kenya Police officers, who had been called in to control the crowd.

Late for work

The officers used whips and batons to manage the unruly commuters who were getting inpatient since they were getting late for work.

Some commuters used ventilation windows at the passengers’ waiting shed and scaled the guard walls to access the ferry leading to the commotion.

KFS faces a shortage of vessels as Mv Kilindini is still undergoing repairs since the first week of this month.

The vessel had been grounded together with Mv Nyayo, but the latter has since resumed operations.

Mv Mvita, which had been recalled from the Mtongwe channel has since been taken back following protests from passengers there.

A fortnight ago, KFS acting Managing Director Isaac Kamau said they had imported spare parts from Belgium to repair Mv Kilindini.

The spare parts cost the Government Sh11 million. The Government has in the past promised to buy new ferries and renovate the existing ones to ensure safety.