High Court suspends delivery of Mombasa's new ferries

A ferry run by Kenya Ferry Services company docks along the coast of Kenya in Mombasa photo:courtesy

The High Court in Mombasa has stopped the delivery of two new ferries worth Sh2 billion from Turkey due to a contract dispute between a firm and the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS).

One of the vessels was set for delivery on July 26 while the second is under construction and will be delivered in September.

But now the deliveries will be delayed after KFS terminated a contract awarded to a firm that was to inspect the vessels in Turkey and has now advertised for the tender seeking new bids.

Now Bonriz Insurance Marine Surveyors Limited has sued KFS for breach of contract and received interim orders barring delivery of the ferries.

The delivery was stopped by Justice Erick Ogola after Bonriz Insurance Marine Surveyors went to court to protest a decision by KFS seeking new bids to inspect the ferries.

Records brought to court show KFS awarded the inspection contract to Bonriz Insurance Marine Surveyors Limited on March 7, this year.