Ruto: State to build Sh100 billion fixed bridge in Mombasa County

Likoni residents walk on the Likoni floating bridge to Mombasa Island. [Omondi Onyango,Standard]

Mombasa residents will no longer use the Likoni floating bridge that was built at the peak of Covid-19 pandemic at Liwatoni in 2021.

The 82-metre metallic bridge was hurriedly built across the Kilindini shipping channel, near the Likoni ferry crossing, by the China Raod and Bridge Corporation for Sh1.9 billion to curb congestion in ferries during the Covid period.

Construction of the bridge was supervised by the Kenya National Highway Authority (Kenha) before being handed over to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for operations, which included opening it to pedestrians in the mornings and evenings while the other hours were for use by ships calling at the port of Mombasa.

Early this year, KPA closed the bridge indefinitely to pedestrians when it allowed night pilotage of oil tankers. It said pedestrians interfered with shipping as they interfered with free navigation of ships.

At least 150,000 residents of Likoni and further in the South Coast used the iconic bridge that had also become a site for school visits and photography.

The issue of the Liwatoni bridge came up on Sunday evening during the town hall meeting between Mombasa residents and President William Ruto at the Kenya School of Government.

The President said the government was getting a contractor to build the Mombasa Gate bridge in Likoni that would see ships pass underneath.

"In March this year, I had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, and he agreed to give us Sh100 billion for the construction of the Likoni bridge. The bridge will enable us to do away with the ferries. Be patient while I get the contractor to do the work," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, while returning to Mombasa from Kwale County, President Ruto told Likoni residents that a solution to the problems of using ferries would be found soon.

He said residents will not have to endure delays at the Likoni ferry channel when a fixed bridge across the channel is built.

Residents face heavy congestion at the Likoni ferry crossing channel, which handles about 350,000 passengers and 6,000 vehicles daily.

Completed

The 70-metre planned Mombasa Gate bridge is to link the Likoni and Mombasa islands.

The Dongo Kundu bridge, built for Sh28 billion 10 kilometres away from the Likoni ferry stage, is about to be completed but is said to be a bit too far for people going to the island.

Earlier this year, KPA managing director William Ruto said the 24-hour seven days a week operation at the new Sh40 billion Kipevu Oil Terminal would reduce turnaround time for ships at Mombasa port.

"This will help in lowering the price of petroleum products because the importers will not incur the expenses, which they always pass on to consumers when ships take longer time discharging their cargo," Captain Ruto said.

He said before the launch of night pilotage, there was a policy that such ships bringing oil could only be piloted during the day, but that has now changed.

"When such a ship has completed discharge, even if it is at night, it must sail away instead of waiting for the next day at the expense of the importer," said Ruto, adding that with the new move, there was already an apparent reduction in the cost of demurrage and fuel.

He said the move had helped reduce the 12-day duration a ship would have taken at the port under the old policy to only three.