The Kenyan Government will allocate Ksh76 million for the Likoni Bridge connecting Mombasa Island and the South Coast.
This was outlined in the Estimates of Development Expenditure for the year ending June 30, 2025, prepared by the National Treasury.
According to the National Treasury, the money will not be released in the 2024/2025 financial year as President William Ruto’s administration rolls out austerity measures.
Ruto’s administration envisions stabilising the economy and minimising borrowing by the end of the next financial year which will avail funds for development.
Therefore, in the 2025/26 financial year, the floating bridge will receive Ksh30 million, with the remainder disbursed in the subsequent year.
For the current year, the floating bridge had been allocated Ksh28 million.
It's worth noting that Mombasa already boasts a Likoni floating bridge, constructed at a cost of Ksh1.9 billion.
Commissioned in 2020 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, its purpose is to facilitate easier crossing of the Kilindini shipping channel at Liwatoni in Mombasa.
The National Treasury did not indicate if the Ksh70 million spread over two financial years would cater for the maintenance of the floating bridge.
Ruto’s administration has allocated millions to the floating bridge, despite initiating plans to dismantle it a year earlier.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that the bridge was constructed to alleviate human congestion at the ferry but has resulted in congestion at Mombasa Port.
This is because the bridge is used during the day by pedestrians allowing ships to dock to the port at night.
