Beyond floods: Why El Niño threatens safety on Coast waters

By  Winnie Atieno

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• On Friday, MV Likoni experienced difficulty making a safe landing at the mainland ramp on the Likoni ferry crossing channel in Mombasa.
• The incident has raised fresh questions about the preparedness of the ferry service as the Coast braces for expected heavy El Niño rains.

As the country gears up to avert disasters that may be brought about by El Niño rains, counties bordering the Indian Ocean at the Coast region are bracing for a unique challenge of preventing tragedies in the waters.

That risk came into sharp focus on Friday at the Likoni ferry crossing channel in Mombasa when the MV Likoni experienced difficulty making a safe landing at the mainland ramp.

This was during heavy rains and high-tide conditions, sending some pedestrians scrambling for safety, and others jumping into the ocean to swim to the shores.

The incident has raised fresh questions about the preparedness of the ferry service as the Coast braces for expected heavy El Niño rains. It has also put pressure on authorities responsible for the crossing to demonstrate that they can keep passengers safe when weather conditions deteriorate and ferry operations are disrupted.

The Kenya Ferry Services operations manager, Mr Paul Koech, said the incident was caused by a failure of one of the vessel’s steering engines.

“On Friday, 11 September 2026, at approximately 1730hrs, MV Likoni, while en route from the Island side to the Likoni Mainland side, experienced a failure of one of its steering engines. As a result, the vessel experienced difficulty maneuvering and making a safe landing at the mainland ramp,” Mr Koech said.

The situation briefly turned into a safety scare when some passengers attempted to jump from the ferry as it approached the shore. Mr Koech said the Ferry Operations Team promptly deployed the MV Kwale, which was also in operation, to assist the MV Likoni.

“The vessel was successfully brought under control and safely landed at the ramp,” he said, adding that it was subsequently taken out of service for inspection and maintenance.

The circumstances have nevertheless heightened concern over what could happen if a mechanical failure coincides with heavy rainfall, high tides, congestion or passenger panic.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the county would meet the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), which manages the ferry services, to discuss ways of strengthening safety at the channel. The county has also offered to deploy its inspectorate personnel to support existing security arrangements.

The Governor is particularly concerned about what could happen if bad weather coincides with a ferry breakdown or overloading.

“There are very many cars and with the weather being the way it is, everyone wishes to go back home. If there is any breakdown whatsoever and if we are going to have any overloading, it is going to be catastrophic. Let’s save lives,” he said.

The Likoni Channel carries thousands of pedestrians and vehicles every day, making it one of the most important transport links on the Coast. County Commissioner Mohamed Noor said security would be reinforced during the morning and evening rush hours, when large numbers of commuters converge on the crossing.

“There was a huge congestion at the channel, but we will beef up security in the morning and evening during rush hours. More police officers will immediately be deployed at the channel to beef up security,” Mr Noor said.

Mr Noor, who chairs the county security team, urged commuters not to rush to board ferries, saying their haste could put other passengers at risk.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, called on the KPA to identify safety gaps that need to be addressed before they lead to a serious accident. She has also called for the reinstatement of the Mtongwe ferry service, arguing that an alternative crossing would help reduce pressure on Likoni.

Ms Mboko also urged passengers to remain calm, follow instructions from ferry crews and avoid attempting to jump into the water.

“The Likoni Channel is a deep and busy maritime route used by vessels accessing Kilindini Harbour,” she cautioned.

The channel handles more than 6,000 vehicles and over 300,000 pedestrians daily, making any prolonged disruption costly for commuters and businesses. The crossing has also faced congestion linked to ferry breakdowns and the limited number of vessels available for service over the years.

Two months ago, President William Ruto announced a Sh3 billion allocation for the purchase of a new ferry, which is expected to arrive in December. The new vessel is expected to help ease congestion and improve reliability at the crossing.

The Dongo Kundu Bypass, completed in 2024, was also designed to take pressure off the ferry by providing a direct road connection between Miritini and Ng’ombeni. But the ferry remains a critical link for thousands of people travelling between Mombasa and Kwale.

The concerns over Likoni come at a time when a series of maritime accidents along the Coast has put vessel safety under renewed scrutiny. On Saturday evening, two people died after the leisure boat MV Blue Pineapple capsized along Tudor Creek.

A multi-agency team responded to the incident at about 5:30pm. Five occupants were rescued, while the bodies of two adults who had been reported missing were later recovered near Nyali Beach.

Following the incident, Mr Nassir warned residents to exercise exceptional caution when undertaking activities at sea.

“I have engaged the Kenya Maritime Authority to undertake immediate and rigorous inspections of the seaworthiness of all vessels ferrying members of the public along our coastline,” Mr Nassir said.

A week earlier, two other people died after a boat overturned at sea in Watamu, Kilifi County, following a sudden change in weather. Five tourists were rescued and taken to hospital.

watieno@ke.nationmedia.com

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