Kenya, April 17 -- Commuters at the Likoni ferry crossing in Mombasa faced significant delays on Thursday morning after several ferries were rendered non-operational due to mechanical issues, causing widespread traffic disruptions.
The breakdown left only two ferries, MV Kwale and MV Harambee, to handle the high daily demand, leading to long queues and growing frustration among motorists and pedestrians.
The Likoni Channel, a critical link between Mombasa Island and the mainland, serves approximately 300,000 pedestrians and 6,000 vehicles daily.
With multiple ferries out of service, chaotic scenes unfolded as thousands of commuters attempted to board the limited operational vessels.
Efforts by law enforcement to manage the crowd were reportedly overwhelmed, with some motorists opting for the Dongo Kundu Bypass to avoid delays.
Nominated Senator Miraj Abdalla criticized the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) management for their silence on the issue, urging greater transparency and caution among users.
Neither the Mombasa County Government nor the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) issued an official statement on the cause of the breakdowns by press time.
The situation began to ease later in the morning when an additional ferry was restored to service, gradually clearing the backlog of stranded commuters.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the reliability of the ageing ferry fleet, with previous reports highlighting frequent mechanical issues and inadequate maintenance.
This is not the first time the Likoni crossing has faced such challenges. In February 2025, clashes between ferry users and security officers disrupted operations, and similar breakdowns have caused delays in recent years.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.