A report tabled by Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo junior on Wednesday, October 23, revealed the poor state of the five ferries operated by the Kenya Ferry Services.
Members of the Senate affirmed that the five ferries are potential death traps.
The report declared MV Kwale, MV Nyayo, MV Kilindini, MV Harambee and MV Likoni that ply the Likoni channel as dysfunctional and unseaworthy vessels.
MV Harambee was found to lack functional ramps and also contravening the International Safety Management (ISM) regulations that require all vessels to dry-dock after 8,500 hours of operations.
The report also accused the Kenya Ferry Services of operating decommissioned ferries including MV Harambee, MV Nyayo and MV Kilindini.
The three vessels are some of Kenya's oldest ferries bought in the 1990s.
The senator stated that the five vessels pose a danger to more than 300,000 passengers and over 6,000 motorists who use the Likoni Channel for travel daily.
“I have it on record that the ramps commonly referred to as prows are not functioning and in the case of MV Kilindini, the prows are rising at less than 45 degrees,” Mutula told senators on Wednesday, October 23.
The Senator went ahead and argued that the deaths of Amanda Mutheu and her mother Mariam Kighenda were avoidable.
“Had the ramp of MV Harambee been functioning properly, the untimely death of Mariam and her daughter Amanda Mutheu on September 29 wouldn't have happened," the Senator declared.
A number of Kenya Ferry Services employees were interrogated by the DCI in connection to the September 29 tragedy.
President Uhuru Kenyatta revoked the appointment of all board members at Kenya Ferry Services on Wednesday, October 16.
