KISUMU, Kenya – Ferries are an important and affordable form of public transportation on waterways, particularly in cities and islands.
These water vessels facilitate direct transit over short distances, making them a convenient and popular choice for passengers.
It is against this backdrop that Cabinet Secretaries Soipan Tuya (Defence), and Hassan Joho (Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs), presided over the keel laying ceremony for the building of a new ferry at Kisumu Shipyard.
The event held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, marked yet another significant milestone for Kenya’s nascent shipbuilding sector.
Y News has established that the Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) and Karnafuly Ship Builders Limited will work together to construct the 29-meter shallow draught vessel, which will be used by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) as the country’s first public ferry on Lake Victoria.
What the new ferry keel-laying means to Kenya
The Defence Cabinet Secretary said in her keynote speech that the keel-laying for the building of Kenya’s second domestically built ship marks a significant step towards the country’s goal of becoming a hub for continental shipbuilding.
Most significantly, CS Tuya observed that the successful construction of this ship would mark a new era in Kenyan shipbuilding and elevate our nation’s rising stature as a major regional industrial powerhouse.
“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,” CS Tuya stated, referring to Kenya’s emerging shipbuilding industry in particular.
She praised KSL, a state corporation in the Ministry of Defence that was founded in 2020, for making impressive strides, stating that the organization’s expanding portfolio of accomplished projects demonstrated its applicability to Kenya’s overall national development strategy.
The Defence Cabinet Secretary stated, “Kenya Shipyards’ accomplishments in recent years and months are in perfect alignment with the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) plan, which aims to create high-value jobs and wealth by opening up new value chains.”
Why the new ferry will be crucial for Lake Victoria
CS Tuya reiterated that the shipbuilding value chain has a great chance of outpacing our nation’s industrial development.
“So, as a Ministry, we are eager to use shipbuilding and related subsectors to promote economic growth,” said the CS.
Above all, CS Tuya stated that the new ferry would revolutionise regional water transportation on Lake Victoria by introducing new efficiencies, such as reducing the time and cost of travel between the riparian counties of Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Siaya, and Busia.
On the other hand, CS Joho praised the new ferry’s development as a significant step towards achieving Kenya’s blue economy agenda through cooperation and creativity.
“Today, we celebrate the collaborative efforts that will make it possible,” said CS Joho adding that Lake Victoria provides for more than 40 million people in East Africa.
Which plans does CS Joho have for Lake Victoria
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Marine Affairs criticised the underutilisation of Lake Victoria for economic purposes and stated that his ministry had plans to enhance marine training, safety, and transportation.
Y News understands that besides, ferry services indirectly support industries like shipbuilding and maintenance, contributing to the broader economy. This highlights ferries’ role in both transportation and economic sectors.
Given that the ship would be Kenya’s first public ferry on Lake Victoria, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga congratulated the national government for the initiative, which she described as long overdue.
Governor Wanga praised the government for initiating the project successfully and expressed her expectation that it would be completed by December 2025, despite the fact that previous attempts to have a public ferry for Lake Victoria had failed over the years.
How the Kenya Shipyards Limited is advancing services
She said that the national government’s strong commitment to the industry was demonstrated by the keel being laid for the vessel’s construction two weeks after the 62nd Madaraka Day national celebrations, which were held in Homa Bay County with the theme “blue economy and maritime affairs.”
“This new development shows how much the Kenyan government has focused on maritime affairs and the blue economy,” Governor Wanga stated.
The Managing Director of KSL, Maj Gen Mohammed Farah, promised in his speech that his company will remain dedicated to the growth of Kenya’s extremely promising shipbuilding sector.
Maj Gen Farah expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Defence for the government’s ongoing support of KSL, pointing out that the agency’s expanding clientele is proof of the benefits.
Senior military and government officials were also in attendance, including Deputy Governors Dr. Matthews Owili (Kisumu) and Dr. Joseph Mahiri (Migori), Principal Secretaries Dr. Patrick Mariru (Defence) and Aden Millah (Shipping and Maritime Affairs).
