Mombasa County government is seeking to attract investors to provide sea transport to connect Mombasa island to the North and South Coasts.

Mombasa County Chief Officer, Abdulwahab Mbarak, said the County was seeking both local and international investors to venture into sea transport as an alternative way for the islanders and visitors to connect to other parts of the county.

He said if private ferry services were introduced, it would make it easier for people from the town to travel to the North Coast. “At the moment, we are facing road expansion problems as there is no space for such an undertaking. We cannot build new roads due to lack of land.”

Mbarak said public ferry services only operated between the island and Likoni in the South while there were no services between the island and the North Coast.

“If private investors introduced ferries to connect the island and north of Mombasa, it would address traffic congestion on the Nyali Bridge,” he added.

Mbarak said the County also planned to get investors who could introduce sea transport services to connect Mombasa with the neighbouring counties of Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu.

“Our mission is to see people all the way from Shimoni in the South Coast to access Lamu in the North Coast by sea.”