President William Ruto has announced plans to increase public ferry services on Lake Victoria and introduce a ferry connection on Lake Turkana.
Speaking during a media engagement at Kisumu State Lodge on Monday, September 14, Ruto said the government was already procuring additional ferries as it seeks to improve water transport.
He said one ferry was already under construction in Kisumu, while more vessels would be acquired to serve communities around Lake Victoria.
“Hii ni ya Lake Victoria, tutakuwa na public ferry, na tutaangalia kama ni tatu au nne zitapatikana ili tuweze kurahisisha huduma ya ferry.”
(This is for Lake Victoria – we will have a public ferry, and we will see whether three or four can be acquired so that we can make ferry services easier.)
Ruto said the government was also considering ferry services on Lake Turkana as part of plans to improve connectivity between northern Kenya counties.
“Vilevile tunapanga ferry pia upande wa Lake Turkana, kwa sababu tunataka tuunganishe Turkana County na Moyale ama Marsabit County.”
(We are also planning a ferry on the Lake Turkana side because we want to connect Turkana County with Moyale or Marsabit County.)
The President did not give a timeline for the acquisition of all the planned vessels but said the ferry programme was part of the government’s broader plans for improving transport and connectivity.
The announcement comes as the government advances a separate Lake Victoria ferry project.
A 29-metre shallow-draft ferry is being built by Kenya Shipyards Limited in Kisumu and is expected to connect Kisumu, Kendu Bay, Homa Bay and Muhuru Bay, as well as some islands.
The government allocated Sh150 million in the 2026/27 budget to complete the Lake Victoria vessel, with supporting piers in Homa Bay and Muhuru Bay also under development.
Ruto’s proposed expansion is expected to ease movement of people and goods across the lakes while opening up opportunities for trade and other economic activities.
The Lake Turkana plan could also provide an alternative link for communities in Turkana and Marsabit, reducing their reliance on longer land routes.
The President made the announcement during his ongoing development tour of Luo Nyanza, where he has been highlighting government projects in infrastructure, housing, water and transport.
