Likoni Ferry

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Ferry Service in Kenya

title: "Likoni Ferry" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ferries-of-kenya", "mombasa", "ferry-boat-disasters"] description: "Ferry Service in Kenya" topic_path: "general/ferries-of-kenya" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likoni_Ferry" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Ferry Service in Kenya ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Water transit"]

FieldValue
nameLikoni Ferry
imageJambo, Mombasa, 2025 (03).jpg
captionMV Jambo embarking passengers at MombasaIsland in 2025
localeMombasa, Kenya
waterwayKilindini Harbour
transit_typePedestrian and vehicular ferry
system_length500 m
vesselsMV Harambee
MV Pwani
MV Kilindini
MV Mvita
MV Nyayo
MV Likoni
MV Kwale
MV Jambo
terminalsMombasa island
Likoni
operatorKenya Ferry Services
::

|name = Likoni Ferry |logo = |logo_size = |image = Jambo, Mombasa, 2025 (03).jpg |image_size = |caption = MV Jambo embarking passengers at MombasaIsland in 2025 |locale = Mombasa, Kenya |waterway = Kilindini Harbour |transit_type = Pedestrian and vehicular ferry |began_operation = |ended_operation = |system_length = 500 m |lines = |vessels = MV Harambee MV Pwani MV Kilindini MV Mvita MV Nyayo MV Likoni MV Kwale MV Jambo |terminals = Mombasa island Likoni |ridership = |operator = Kenya Ferry Services |owner =

The Likoni Ferry is a ferry service across Kilindini Harbour, serving the Kenyan city of Mombasa between Mombasa Island and the mainland suburb of Likoni. Double-ended ferries alternate across the harbour, carrying both road and foot traffic. The ferries are operated by the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS), and is the only remaining ferry service by KFS. The Likoni Ferry began operating in 1937. Passenger services are free; vehicles (including tuktuks, motorcycles, and trucks) pay a toll.

The crossing is approximately 500 m.

Service

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Hamburg_Dradenau_MV_Kwale_MV_Likoni_3735.jpg" caption="The new ferries MV ''Kwale'' and MV ''Likoni'' are moored at the Dradenau Terminal in the Port of Hamburg, Germany."] ::

There are seven operating ferries. MV Mvita and MV Pwani were bought in 1969 and 1974, respectively; MV Nyayo, MV Harambee, and MV Kilindini were bought second hand in 1990. MV Kwale and MV Likoni were acquired in June 2010. MV Jambo was purchased from Türkiye in 2020.

In 2010, Harambee, Nyayo, and Kilindini were deregistered from Lloyd's Register for being unseaworthy. As late as May 2011, MV Nyayo was in still in use as the relief ferry.

The Dongo Kundu bypass is planned to ease the congested ferry by connecting . The road would run from Diani to Miritini, bypassing Mombasa itself.

A direct bridge or tunnel from Likoni to Mombasa Island had also been proposed, but the high cost of building them has made these options unlikely.

In 2018, the United States Department of State cautioned travellers against using the ferry due to safety concerns.

Incidents

''Mtongwe'' Disaster (1994)

On 29 April 1994, Mtongwe ferry bound for the mainland capsized 40 m from port, killing 272 of the 400 people on board. Following the disaster, it was reported that the capacity of the ship was 300. As of 2005, KFS had compensated 81 families a total of KSh 36,902,472 (US$486,840).

''Harambee'' incident (2019)

On 29 September 2019, 35-year-old Mariam Kighenda and her 4-year-old daughter Amanda Wambua died after boarding Harambee when their Toyota Isis slipped off the back ramp into the harbour. On 2 October, the rescue team used robots to locate the victims' bodies trapped in the car. On 9 October, the car and bodies were located at a depth of 58 m. They were recovered two days later.

Fees

Motorcycles pay KSh 50, sedan cars pay KSh 120, minibuses pay KSh 600, and buses pay KSh 1,100. Pedestrians and cyclists ride for free.

References

References

  1. "KFS History".
  2. (29 June 2020). "New Likoni ferry, MV Jambo, leaves Turkey for Kenya". Nation.
  3. Daily Nation, 7 March 2010: [http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/875106/-/vr7qqq/-/index.html New ferries no magic wand, say experts]
  4. link. (14 March 2012)
  5. Daily Nation, 7 March 2010: [http://www.nation.co.ke/News/State%20sitting%20on%20grand%20proposals%20over%20ferry%20problems/-/1056/875118/-/l7cj21/-/index.html State sitting on grand proposals over ferry problems]
  6. "Kenya Travel Advisory".
  7. Daily Nation, Wednesday Magazine, 19 November 2003: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060427035859/http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/Supplements/wednesday/19112003/story19111.htm The restless ghosts of Mtongwe]
  8. "Business".
  9. [http://ferrynews.com/stories/kenyan-ferry-firm-compensates-tragedy-victims Kenyan ferry firm compensates tragedy victims — Ferrynews]{{dead link. (December 2017)
  10. (30 September 2019). "Search and rescue underway in Kenya after car plunges into ocean". The East African.
  11. (30 September 2019). "Mother and daughters identified as victims of Likoni Ferry tragedy". Standard Media.
  12. (1 October 2019). "Body of woman and daughter still trapped 60m underwater". Standard Media.
  13. (2 October 2019). "State using robots to locate Likoni Ferry tragedy victims". Standard Media.
  14. (2 October 2019). "Search for Sunday ferry tragedy victims widened to 9 probable locations". Capital FM Kenya.
  15. (9 October 2019). "Divers locate car that slid off Kenyan ferry". The East African.
  16. (11 October 2019). "Family of Likoni victims left frustrated as retrieval of bodies is delayed". Standard Media.
  17. (11 October 2019). "Likoni Ferry Tragedy, Bodies Finally Retrieved [Video]". Kahawa Tungu.
  18. "KFS toll charges".

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