Special groups targeted in Sh680 million ferry tender

A section of contractors during a sensitisation forum for special groups organized by the Kenya Ferry Services. Photo/Kelvin Karani

MOMBASA, KENYA: Special interest groups at the state-owned ferry agency may get access to the lucrative tenders following a deal with commercial banks.

Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) have had a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a consortium of banks to provide persons living with disabilities, women and youths access to funds for tenders once they win at the firm.

This is in a bid to enable them benefit from part of the Sh680 million budget for tenders and supplies at the KFS.

But head of procurement at KFS Mr Maurice Muya explained that the work that requires specialisation such as dry docking of ferries and supply of spare parts will go to big firms.

Addressing to the groups meeting at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) guest house grounds in Likoni at the weekend, Mr Muya said they had not benefited much from business at the firm because of lack access to funds.

KFS takes its fleet of six ferries for dry dock maintenance service and buys spare parts to ensure their smooth operations. The ferries are Mv Jambo, Mv Nyayo, Mv Kwale, Mv Likoni, Mv Kilindini and Mv Harambee.

“We have entered into an arrangement with commercial banks so that once they can too benefit from the tenders at KFS. At times these groups win tenders but fail to implement because they cannot raise funds,” Muya said.  The financial institutions picked include Family Bank, National Bank of Kenya and  Rafiki Bank.

“Once those in these three categories win a tender at KFS and go to these banks they will get funds to do the business. They will now not have to abandon the job and disappear for lack of finances,” Muya said.

More than 500 people attended the forum.

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