President William Ruto has commended his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta for initiating MV Uhuru II.
MV Uhuru II is the first ship to be locally assembled at the Kisumu Shipyard.
The former President commissioned the vessel on August 2, 2022, at the Kisumu Shipyard Pier.
While speaking during the launch on Monday, Ruto said the project has seen the light of day courtesy of Uhuru.
"I must congratulate my predecessor for his foresight in coming up with this shipyard refurbishment. When one morning he asked me to visit Kisumu and see what the military could do, when we came here, it was a heap of dirt, wreckage and old buildings," he said.
The President revealed that he was asked whether the project would continue when he took office.
Ruto said he not only confirmed the project should continue but also that it should be accelerated.
"To see what we are seeing here today is phenomenal and I must say a lot for President Uhuru Kenyatta and the leadership of our military with a lot of foresight drove this programme to where we are today.
MV Uhuru II is a cargo ship equipped with a range of advanced systems that are essential for its safe and efficient operation.
From its hull structure and piping systems to its engines, electrical equipment and firefighting system, every aspect of the ship has been carefully designed and constructed to ensure it is able to meet the demanding needs of commercial shipping.
The 100-metre vessel can carry up to 22 wagons and an estimated capacity of 2 million litres of crude oil per trip.
The Sh2.4 billion vessel with a capacity of 1,800 tonnes, was being built by Kenyan agencies, including the KDF, in partnership with Dutch firm Damen Shipyards.
The ship was constructed to complement MV Uhuru I in meeting an emergent increase in demand for cargo transportation through the lake by regional countries.
According to the Kenya Shipyard Limited, assembling the ship locally has saved the Kenyan taxpayers Sh1.3 billion, an amount that would have been spent on imports.
Completion of MV Uhuru II will bring the total Kenya vessel capacity at the Port of Kisumu to above 3,060 tonnes.
MV Uhuru I was constructed in 1966 and ferries mainly petroleum products to Uganda. It has a capacity of 1,260 tonnes.