Transport

Boat operators say delay in work on jetties hurting them

JETTY

Residents say they are forced to queue to use the jetties. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Boat operators in Lamu have appealed to the government to speed up the rehabilitation and construction of the jetties to ensure easy and safe transport of goods and passengers.

The national government had promised to start revamping four key jetties in Lamu County this month but, work is yet to start on the facilities.

“The government promised to construct the four jetties by November this year. We are almost in mid-November and there are no signs of the construction,” said Mr Omar Swaleh, a coxswain.

During an inspection tour to the jetties last month, Transport and Infrastructure PS Paul Maringa said the government had set aside Sh649 million to rehabilitate and reconstruct Mokowe Customs Jetty, Lamu Mangrove Terminal Jetty, Manda Airport Jetty and Mtangawanda Jetty.

Mr Maringa said the Mokowe Customs Jetty had been allocated Sh520 million, the Mtangawanda Jetty Sh62 million, Manda Airport Jetty Sh35 million and Lamu Mangrove Terminal Jetty Sh32 million.

The government had also announced that all the works would start this month.

Public works structural engineer Hillary Nyaanga appealed to the residents to be patient, saying work will begin in three weeks’ time.

“Tendering is already ongoing. We opened the process this week. So we expect three weeks from now that visible construction work will start on the ground,” said Mr Nyaanga.

The construction of the four jetties is expected to greatly boost and ease intra-county trade.

The four jetties are in dire state due to poor maintenance and need urgent repair. At the Lamu Mangrove Terminal Jetty for example, boat operators and travellers are forced to use one side of the jetty after the other part collapsed.

Jetties play a very important role in the transfer of passengers and cargo to and from marine vehicles and water bodies in Lamu Old Town and the other adjacent islands including Manda, Mokowe, Shela, Mtangawanda, Kizingitini, Faza and other places.

“We are really suffering especially after one side of the Mangrove Terminal jetty was closed. We are facing difficulties including congestion and delays in our operations,” said Mr Duko Omar, a resident.

Residents say they are forced to queue to use the jetties.

“We are only using one side of the broken jetty which is risk to us as well as our passengers and cargo,” said Mr Swabir Zein.

Accidents at the jetties have also been blamed on their state of disrepair.