Residents of Mombasa County have hailed Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for streamlining operations at the Likoni Ferry Crossing channel since the Kenya Ferry Service.

According to the residents, the services improved drastically after the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) took over the management of the channel, from the disbanded Kenya Ferry Serices.

The crossing channel is used by over 300,000 passengers and 6,000 vehicles daily, leading to heavy congestion, particularly during peak hours in the morning and evening.

“We are grateful to the management of KPA, it has brought tremendous improvement. For two years the ferry precincts were synonymous with long lines of traffic stretching to the CBD. Some motorists used to cross late in the night,” said Evans Momanyi, a Mombasa resident.

Adding “Since KPA took over the operations at the Likoni crossing channel by incorporating Kenya Ferry Service staff to KPA there is a lot of changes, ostensibly the personnel feels motivated, there is professionalism, congestion has decreased, and hawkers have disciplined and no longer sell their products along the roads to avert accidents,”

In December last year(2023) Cabinet Secretary for Transport Kipchumba Murkomen  toured and inspected the ferry services in Kwale lauding the Kenya Ferry Service for a job well done.

"Since the Kenya Ports Authority took over the management of ferry services, efficiency has improved. This morning, I had the privilege of using the services as I travelled to Kwale on a working tour," Murkomen said on his X account.

During his tour, Murkomen interacted with the ferry staff including coxswain.

The management of the ferry services was transferred to KPA by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in late 2020.