KENYA Ferry Services will resume services at the Mtongwe channel in March, managing director Musa Hassan Musa has said. He said the ongoing security reforms at the Likoni crossing channel will be completed in three months time.
Musa said KFS will ensure improved services at the Mtongwe ferry crossing channel. He said teh channel is a shorter route for residents who wish to cross to the Island. Musa was speaking on Saturday during a meeting at KFS's headquarters.
The meeting was chaired by the Mombasa county commissioner Nelson Marwa. Musa said KFS is undertaking repairs of the jetties at Mtongwe before resuming the services. “We want to assure Mombasa residents that Mtongwe ferry services will resume as scheduled,” he said.
The services at the channel have been on and off ever since the April 29, 1994 tragic accident that claimed the lives of over 200 people. Musa said security scanners will be installed at the Likoni channel next month. He said this will curb increasing crime at the channel.
Musa said the Likoni channel has recorded one of the highest numbers of traffic during the festive season. He said additional CCTV cameras will be installed at the Likoni crossing channel to man both human and traffic security.
“More than 7,000 vehicles have been crossing the channel on a daily basis during the December festive,” Musa said. He said KFS has the capacity to handle any increase in the number of ferry users crossing the channel. Musa said they expected the number to increase this year and assured the ferry users that the management is on high alert.
Musa urged the members of the public to abide by the rules and regulations as directed by the stewards at the ferries. Musa announced that the management has introduced special passes for tourists at Likoni channel.