Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary David Chirchir has announced plans by the Kenyan government to build three more ships to ferry oil and oil products to Uganda through Lake Victoria. He said upon completion, the ships would allow for daily trips to and from Uganda, from the current weekly trips.
The ships are expected to use the oil jetty in Kisumu, a project which cost the taxpayer Ksh 2 Billion and has been heavily underutilized since its completion in 2018. The project is expected to ease pressure on other infrastructure, such as easing road congestion at border crossings, improving the reliability of the supply, and being cost-effective.
The three ships are expected to work in tandem with MV Uhuru II, Kenya’s first locally manufactured ship, which is expected to hit the waters in July, and increase Kenya’s haulage capacity through the lake corridor and allow for daily trips. MV Uhuru II is being constructed at a cost of Ksh 2.4 billion by Kenya Shipyards Limited partnering with Dutch company Damen Shipyards. According to the government, it is expected to save the taxpayer Ksh 1.3 billion on the cost of importing a new ship.
The manufacturing commitment is expected to be a boon for lakeside residents and offer employment for locals in the manufacturing sector. It is also expected to boost trade through Lake Victoria and grow the lakeside economy in line with the country’s Blue economy agenda.
