President William Ruto has promised a new Sh3 billion ferry for Mombasa's busy Likoni channel by the end of the year.
Speaking during his ongoing four-day development tour of the Coast on Thursday, Ruto said the decision followed his observation of commuter delays at the ferry terminal.
“I’ve just witnessed the people of Mombasa trying to cross the sea using the ferry this morning. I want to tell you that my government is building you a new ferry before December this year at a cost of Sh3 billion,” he said.
The President also announced a separate Sh5 billion investment targeting Mtongwe, saying the funds will be used to improve mobility and address long-standing transport challenges in the area.
"Tunawatengenezea ferry nyingine, we have committed Sh3billion. In 6 months, we will have a new ferry. Pia kule Mtongwe we are investing another Sh500 million to make sure that mobility is improved!"~Ruto pic.twitter.com/yiny4BKaC9
— NairobiNews.co.ke (@NairobiNews254) May 21, 2026
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“In Mtongwe as well, we are investing another Sh5 billion to make sure that mobility is improved in the county,” he said.
The Likoni channel remains one of the country’s busiest transport points, handling an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 pedestrians daily, with total crossings of both pedestrians and vehicles reaching up to 300,000 people and about 6,000 vehicles across the two channels.
Congestion is most severe during peak commuting hours.
Ferry operations at Likoni have long faced safety concerns, with commuters frequently reporting accidents during overcrowded boarding, while persons with disabilities continue to experience accessibility challenges at smaller crossings such as Mtongwe.
During the tour, Ruto also announced plans to issue more than 200,000 title deeds to over one million families, part of a wider programme aimed at resolving long-standing land ownership disputes.