Kenyans urged to tolerate ferry services crisis

By Ngumbao Kithi and Philip Mwakio

Kenya Ferry Services Chairman Kahindi Kingi has asked Kenyans to understand the pressure the ferries underwent during the Christmas period when all of them worked non-stop without service.

He said despite chaos at the ferry every day, the services were safe and asked commuters to listen to experts to avoid disaster.

"We need one ferry to be taken away for service at a time and this will create a serious crisis in moving commuters at the centre," he said.

Mr Kingi said after delivering better services, what the ferries needed most was repair and asked travellers to be understanding.

"Our engineers were working day and night during the Christmas season and we never encountered any problems at the time," he said.

However, the Kenya Association of Tour Operators Chairperson Tasneem Adamji described the ferry crisis as a cyclic move, which the Government has refused to address.

"We are pushed to handle the same problem every day and there seems to be no solution to this crisis," Ms Adamji said.

The official said the move to create the Dongo Kundu crossing for the last 25 years has failed to yield fruit and demanded action to solve the suffering of the local people.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers South Coast Chairman Vikran Korla said the service was a disgrace to taxpayers. At the same time, Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) has expressed shock and dismay at persistent inefficiency of the KFS at the Mombasa Likoni crossing.

Muhuri Executive Director Khalid Hussein said it had become a nightmare for both motorists and pedestrians to cross the Likoni channel as the services rendered were far below standards and a danger to the safety and security of human life and property.