Mombasa: Ferry services at the Likoni crossing channel in Mombasa are set for upgrade to enhance operational efficiency, improve safety, security, and passenger satisfaction.
According to Kenya News Agency, the significant upgrades will involve renovating existing terminals and new maritime constructions for ferry crossings, aiming to enhance connectivity, streamline logistics, and boost tourism in the port city of Mombasa.
Residents and investors have long recognized the need for robust maritime infrastructure projects to support port and maritime trade and the tourism industry. The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has initiated a new traffic circulation management plan to modernize ferry terminals, enhance connectivity, and meet world-class safety standards. This move is seen as a step toward revitalizing Mombasa’s waterways, offering both residents and visitors a scenic, environmentally friendly, and congestion-free travel alternative.
The Likoni ferry service, operated by Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) 24/7, is a vital transportation link that carries thousands of pedestrians and vehicles daily across Kilindini harbour. Pedestrians cross for free, while vehicles pay a fee. Currently, ferries such as MV Jambo, MV Kwale, MV Likoni, MV Kilindini, MV Nyayo, and MV Harambee ply the Likoni crossing channel. Mombasa’s growing traffic congestion has been a challenge for both residents and tourists crossing the Likoni crossing channel.
The upgrades will expand and rebuild passenger holding bays with better lighting and seating arrangements, while landing ramps will be widened to ease the constant pressure of vehicles moving in and out of the ferries. Pedestrian skybridges and safer waiting sheds will be added to protect commuters from the daily scramble, while the bus terminal will be relocated and formalized to end the chaos of uncoordinated boarding. The plan also integrates economic opportunities by creating more than 900 stalls for informal traders, ensuring small businesses remain part of the ferry ecosystem.
Construction is set to begin in a month’s time on the mainland Likoni side and will run over 24 months. Political leaders, tour operators, SMEs, transporters, and other immediate stakeholders have expressed strong support for the envisioned marine project. KPA Managing Director (MD), Capt. William Ruto, in a speech read on his behalf by KFS General Manager Bakari Gowa, promised to ‘restore dignity to daily movement’ and deliver smarter, safer ferry services. Capt. Ruto emphasized that the design rests on five pillars of connectivity: spatial, functional, environmental, social, and cultural, ensuring the ferry space will be efficient, inclusive, and dignified.
Likoni Member of Parliament (MP), Mishi Mboko, welcomed the plan as a ‘significant milestone and long overdue’, noting that the upgrades will boost trade and tourism in the coastal city. Mombasa County Commissioner, Mohamed Noor, praised the inclusivity of the design, highlighting new facilities for persons with disabilities and clear segregation of passenger movement. He stated that the ferry upgrades will reduce traffic bottlenecks during tourist peak seasons when there is an influx of tourists and vehicles.
Dr. Sam Ikwaye, the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), Coast Branch Executive Officer, highlighted that the new ferry measures are crucial for maintaining Mombasa’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination. He welcomed the commencement of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service from Mombasa (SGR) Terminus to Mombasa Central Business District (CBD), a nearly 14 km journey. He emphasized the importance of efficient transportation in sustaining the momentum and accommodating the growing number of visitors to the coastal region.