President William Ruto on Thursday, May 21 announced plans to introduce a new ferry, to bring the number of water vessels operating at the crucial and busy Likoni Crossing Channel to three.

Speaking on the first day of his five-day development tour of the Coast region, the first in command revealed that his government had set aside KSh3 billion to construct the new watercraft in Mombasa by December 2026.

“Nimeona asubuhi ya leo watu wa Mombasa wakivuka ferry hapa,” he said during an event at the Mama Ngina Drive. “Tunawatengenezea ferry nyingine kabla ya December. We have committed KSh3 billion. By December, we will have a new ferry.”

The president added that the decision to build a new ferry aims to reduce congestion that is often witnessed while residents are crossing between Mombasa Main Land and Mombasa Island.

Additionally, Ruto said his administration was planning to invest another KSh500 million in transport infrastructure within Mombasa County for purposes of improving mobility.

“Na pia kule Mtongwe, we are investing another KSh500 million to make sure that mobility is improved in Mombasa County.”

The Likoni ferry handles approximately 300,000 pedestrians and 6,000 vehicles on a daily basis.

President Ruto also assured the people of the government’s commitment to deal with the issue of squatters, missing land titles, and absentee landlords. He gave the Ministry of Land a 90-day ultimatum to deal with the absentee landlord issue.

“I am instructing the Ministry of Lands. Waende sasa wakatekate mashamba haya yote, kila mtu apimiwe shamba yake ndani ya siku tisini.”