KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR NEW FERRY HELD AT KISUMU SHIPYARD

In yet another major milestone for Kenya’s emerging shipbuilding industry, Defence Cabinet Secretary Hon Soipan Tuya and her Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs counterpart Hon Hassan Joho on Wednesday presided over the keel laying ceremony for the construction of a new ferry at Kisumu Shipyard.

The construction of the 29-metre shallow draught vessel will be undertaken by Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) in conjunction with Karnafuly Ship Builders Limited for use by Kenya Ports Authority as Kenya’s first ever public ferry on Lake Victoria.

In her keynote address, the Defence Cabinet Secretary described the laying of the keel for the construction of Kenya’s second ship to be manufactured locally is a major milestone in Kenya’s ambition to become a continental shipbuilding hub.

“Most importantly, the successful completion of this vessel will herald a new dawn for shipbuilding in Kenya and lift to new levels our country’s growing profile as a regional industrial giant.

“For Kenya’s budding shipbuilding industry specifically, this project is a perfect foundation upon which we will expand the shipbuilding portfolio, and accelerate our strategic push towards being a regional leader in shipbuilding and marine engineering,” Hon Tuya said.

She commended KSL, a state corporation in the Ministry of Defence established in 2020, for commendable progress saying the institution’s growing portfolio of successful projects was a testament to the institution’s relevance to Kenya’s broad national development agenda.

“Kenya Shipyards achievements in recent years and months, aligns perfectly with the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) plan that seeks to create high value jobs and wealth by opening up new value chains,” the Defence Cabinet Secretary said.

She added: “The shipbuilding value chain holds very high potential for leapfrogging our country’s industrial revolution. As a Ministry, we are keen on leveraging shipbuilding and auxiliary sub-sectors to spur economic prosperity.”

Mostly importantly, Hon Tuya said the new ferry would transform regional water transport on Lake Victoria by injecting new efficiencies including lowering the cost and time of travel between riparian counties of Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori.

On his part, Hon Joho hailed the construction the new ferry as a key step in advancing Kenya’s blue economy agenda through collaboration and innovation.

“Today, we celebrate the collaborative efforts that will make it possible,” Hon Joho said while noting that Lake Victoria supports over 40 million people across East Africa.

At the same time, the Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary decried the underutilization of Lake Victoria for economic activity saying his ministry had plans to improve maritime transport, safety, and training.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga thanked the national Government for the project which she termed as long over due considering that the vessel would be Kenya’s first ever public ferry on Lake Victoria.

While recounting how past efforts to acquire a public ferry for Lake Victoria had failed over the years, Governor Wanga applauded the Government for the successful initiation of the project saying she looked forward to its completion by December this year.

She said the laying of the keel for the construction of the vessel just weeks after the 62nd Madaraka Day national celebrations held in Homa Bay County under the theme ‘blue economy and maritime affairs’ was a demonstration of the national Government’s deep commitment to the sector.

“It signifies just how much focus the Government of Kenya has put on maritime affairs and the blue economy,” Governor Wanga said.

In his remarks, Maj Gen Mohammed Farah, the Managing Director of KSL, assured of his organization’s continued commitment to the development of Kenya’s highly potential shipbuilding industry.

Maj Gen Farah thanked the Ministry of Defence for the Government’s continued investment in KSL saying the results can be seen through the agency’s growing customer base.

Also present were Principal Secretaries Dr Patrick Mariru (Defence) and Aden Millah (Shipping and Maritime Affairs) as well as Deputy Governors Dr Matthews Owili (Kisumu) and Dr Joseph Mahiri (Migori) among other senior military and Government officials.