Mtongwe ferry services suspended again

The Kenya Ferry Services has recalled Mv Likoni from Mtongwe channel leaving commuters stranded.

The Mtongwe channel users have been forced to look for alterative route after the ferry was deployed to the busy Likoni channel.

Officials said, a vessel operating at Likoni, Mv Jambo, developed a technical problem on Monday evening.

“Jambo ferry is out of operations due a technical hitch. We have recalled the Mtongwe ferry MV Likoni to help manage the situation. We apologise to Mtongwe ferry users for the inconvenience caused,” said KFS on their Twitter handle.

MTONGWE

The services at the Mtongwe have been temporarily suspended only two months after operations resumed.

Services at Mtongwe were suspended late last year for three months after a vessel was recalled.

Commuters using the Mtongwe channel protested the move to relocate MV Likoni saying it has inconvenienced them.

“For how long are we going to face these challenges? If they cannot sustain the services here they should just remove the ferries,” said Said Bakari, a commuter.

There have been frequent interruption of services at Mtongwe channel which was re-launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta last year.

KFS currently ferries more than 320,000 people and more than 6,500 vehicles across Likoni Channel while 15,000 people use the Mtongwe Channel daily.

Four ferries, Mv Kilindini, Mv Nyayo, Mv Harambee and the Mv Likoni are now operating at the Likoni channel.

Another ferry Mv Kwale has been out of services for more than three months for repairs.

However, three ferries, the Mv Nyayo, Mv Kilindini and Mv Harambee which were declared to be unseaworthy have been faced with frequent breakdowns