• The presidents opened the valves at the dockyard for the first time since the construction of the ship started.
• The exercise is important in ship building to detect any leakage before it is launched.
Image: FAITH MATETE
President Uhuru Kenyatta officially Commissioned the Kisumu Shipyard and floating of MV Uhuru II ship which is nearing completion.
The MV Uhuru II ship will be launched later this year.
The commissioning was completed even as rain heavily pounded the lakeside city.
On a chilly day with no sun, at around 12 noon, the President put on his rain court and proceeded on his inspection around the shipyard before the final commissioning.
Other dignitaries accompanying the president were shielded from the rain using umbrellas.
The President was also taken to the stand where the artificial impression of the MV Uhuru II ship stood, he was then guided through the entire construction process of the ship.
This was followed by a floating ceremony and christening the vessels. (MV Uhuru II ship)
A brief prayer session was held for the ship at the Dry Dock area. This was led by the chaplain. This prayer takes place done for any new ship and includes the sailors who are to man the vessel.
The President opened the valves at the dockyard for the first time since the construction of the ship started.
The exercise is important in ship building to detect any leakage before it is launched.
The President arrived at the shipyard at around 11am and immediately started his inspection around the yard while a live band in one of the stand alone tents entertained guests.
In the main tent there are various top government officials including those from the military, dignitaries, Cabinet Secretaries, various stakeholders and leaders from the region.
The Sh2.4 billion vessel (MV Uhuru II ship) with a capacity of 1,800 tonnes was being built at the Kenya Shipyard Limited's Kisumu facility by Kenyan agencies, including the KDF, in partnership with Dutch firm-Damen shipyards.
This is the first ship to be constructed and locally assembled in the country which has given the country a great milestone as it positions itself to tap into the potential of lake transport and the blue economy.
According to the Kenya Shipyard Limited, assembling the ship locally has saved the Kenyan taxpayers Sh 1.3 billion, an amount that would have spent on imports.
It will complement the old MV Uhuru 1 built in 1966 being operated by Kenya Railways currently ferrying goods, mainly petroleum products, to Uganda.
MV Uhuru 1 has a capacity of 1,260 tonnes.
Completion of MV Uhuru II will bring the total Kenya vessel capacity at the Port of Kisumu to above 3,060 tonnes.