Transport around Lake Victoria has gotten a major boost following the launch of Kenya’s second vessel MV Uhuru II.
The new vessel which was handed over to the Kenya Railways Corporation today by the Kenya Shipyards Limited has the capacity to ferry up to 22 loaded wagons equivalent to 1800 metric tons of cargo.
The vessel is expected to help Kenya increase fuel shipments to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
For instance, Uganda and the Northern frontier of the East African region consume an estimated 1.5 billion litres of oil every year.
Kenya is targeting to capitalize on this development to grow its maritime sector through freight services.
The handover of the vessel marks a deliberate strategy by the government to leverage the country’s emerging shipbuilding industry for economic growth.
The new vessel will help Kenya make at least three trips to the neighbouring countries every week.
Both MV Uhuru I and MV Uhuru II have a combined capacity of over 3000 metric tons which the country seeks to leverage in its long-term strategy to shift focus away from road transport.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya urged state agencies and devolved units to maximize the expertise of the Kenya Shipyard Limited to grow the country’s emerging shipbuilding industry and in turn spur the country’s economic growth.
MV Uhuru II is Kenya’s first locally assembled vessel giving the nascent ship-building industry in Kenya a major boost.
