President Ruto commissions Kenya's first locally made cargo ship

Kenya's first locally made cargo ship, MV Uhuru II.

President William Ruto on Monday, October 9, commissioned the MV Uhuru II, a Sh2.4 billion cargo ship that was locally constructed and assembled at the Kenya Shipyards in Kisumu.

The ship, which is the first of its kind in Kenya, is expected to boost trade and transport in the region by ferrying goods and oil across Lake Victoria.

The President hailed the project as a milestone in the development of the blue economy and the realization of the Vision 2030 goals.

The MV Uhuru II is a 100-metre vessel that can carry up to 22 wagons and an estimated capacity of 2 million litres of crude oil per trip.

It is equipped with a range of advanced systems that are essential for its safe and efficient operation, such as its hull structure, piping systems, engines, electrical equipment, and firefighting system.

The ship was constructed to complement the MV Uhuru I, which was built in 1966 and ferries mainly petroleum products to Uganda.

The two ships are expected to help meet the growing demand for transportation of goods through the lake by regional countries.