The government has launched new measures to ensure people using the 1.9B Likoni floating bridge are safe.
The new security measures include screening an average of 20,000 people who use the floating bridge on a daily basis.
“The regional security team is working with all our agents to ensure that our people are secure as they use this bridge. We are adapting a multi-agency approach for purposes of managing this bridge well," said Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
To address the safety concerns of the citizens at the Likoni side of the bridge, the government will set up a police post to ensure their safety.
“It is completely on our radar screen in terms of ensuring that people are safe and secure as they use the bridge. That’s why we have the Coast Guard working with us” said Matiang’i.
The 1.2 Kilometer Likoni footbridge in Mombasa County, was officially opened for the public on January 1, 2021.
The bridge was constructed to ease the movement of over 300,000 pedestrians who use the ferry services daily and creating better access to 6,000 vehicles that cross the channel daily.
However, despite the construction of the floating footbridge, most of the residents still opt to use the ferries saying the bridge is far from their homes. As a result, the government constructed a public transport terminal on the Mombasa Island side that is expected to be officially launched for public use.
Early this year, the government commissioned a task force to monitor the safety of residents using the multimillion bridge.
The task force consisted of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Coast Guard Services (KUCGS), the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), the National Police Service (NPS) and the Coast Regional Commissioners.
"The committee will address the safety of both pedestrians and vessels at the floating bridge and also bolster safety standards and confidence of commuters," KMA Director General Robert Njue said on Wednesday, January 13.
