Residents of Mfangano Island in Homa Bay have urged the government to speed up the procurement of a public ferry service to serve them.
They noted that the eleventh parliament had allocated Sh300 million to support construction of a ferry to ply Mbita mainland and Mfangano Island in Suba North constituency.
The residents petitioned the government through the Mfangano Development Forum (MDF) to come to their aid in easing movement of passengers and goods to and fro the island.
MDF Chairperson, Daniel Rakoro, said the national government pledged to provide them with such a ferry.
The ferry would connect and act as an extension of Homa Bay -Mbita- Mfangano road.
Speaking to the media Sunday, Rakoro said the government had agreed to provide a ferry that would serve the locals free of charge daily.
He noted that the government is establishing a ferry in Kisumu at a cost of Sh800million but that was not the one they requested for.
The ferry would ply from Kisumu, Lwanda K’Otieno, Kendu Bay,Homa Bay, Mbita, Mfangano to Muhuru Bay in Migori county.
Rakoro said the ferry that is being assembled in Kisumu is not what they wanted.
They are currently using a privately owned ferry and water bus which are expensive and inconvenient.
“The government should get us the ferry we asked for. The Sh300million that the government set aside should be utilised,”he said.
Lack of public ferry in Lake Victoria has caused many tribulations to people in the area. Cost of transport is high and impedes businesses.
The residents said that they want a vessel that is similar to the one which operates between Mombasa and Likoni.
The MDF members also want the government to complete the construction of a 54km Mfangano ring road to open up the island for business.
The islanders also requested the government to build for them a modern market. The island has a population of more than 30,000 people.
“Mfangano needs proper and modern market that can serve people from adjacent islands like Remba and Ringiti. The islands are largest fish producers in Homa Bay County,” Rakoro said.
By Davis Langat
