Likoni channel motorists to pay toll fees on mobile phone

Motorists using the Likoni channel can now pay their toll charges through a cashless system.

The new system was introduced by the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) last week.

In a statement, KFS said payments will be made through Safaricom’s M-Pesa.

“We are glad to inform our customers that the company has introduced cashless payment solution, which will enable customers pay toll charges with M-Pesa,” reads the brief statement which was posted on its official Facebook page.

The service is accessed by dialing*721#.

The motorists will be able to pay for their charges while crossing from either Mombasa Island or the mainland side.

Vehicles covered are saloon cars, Pickups, trucks, trailers, buses, fuel tankers and motorcycles.

The service will also allow mkokoteni pushers to make their payment on their phones.

Those penalised at the channel for traffic offences can also pay the fine using the new system.

“The system is convenient and time saving,” the KFS management added in its statement.

Motorists said they expect the new system to ease congestion at the channel.

“We just hope that the system will be efficient at all times to avoid disruptions. We are tired of spending hours at this channel because of slow services,” said David Kahindi, a motorist who uses the channel frequently.

Thousands of motorists using the channel have been caught up in long traffic queues mainly caused by slow services at the toll charge station.

The situation forces officials in charge of payment to walk to the motorists and give them tickets to allow smooth traffic flow.

This has resulted to questions on why the tickets are printed before a vehicle gets to the toll charge station. Many times, motorists are forced to spend hours at the channel due to traffic snarl-ups at both sides of the crossing.

More than 6,000 vehicles use the Likoni channel daily, together with more than 300,000 people.

Five ferries serve at the crossing and one operates at the Mtongwe channel. The vessels are Mv Safari, Mv Jambo, Mv Nyayo, Mv Kilindini, Mv Kwale and Mv Likoni.

The new ferries Mv Safari and Mv Jambo have boosted services at the channel because of the capacity to carry a high number of both vehicles and commuters.