This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
Kenya Navy engineers have saved the state millions of shillings by repairing the MV Uhuru, a cargo vessel on Lake Victoria, at a cost of Sh250 million. This is a significant reduction from the Sh1.8 billion quoted by some contractors.
Chief Administrative Secretary for Defence Peter Odoyo revealed that the Kenya Navy engineers were able to complete the repair at a fraction of the cost. He attributed this to the skills and training of the engineers.
Odoyo also announced that the Kenya Navy engineers will be working on the repair of the old railway line from Nakuru to Kisumu, which is estimated to cost Sh3.8 billion. He noted that the deployment of the Kenya Navy engineers could reduce the cost of the project.
During a tour of the Kisumu Railway Station, Odoyo was accompanied by Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, Regional Commissioner Nyanza, Magu Mutindika, and Kisumu County Commissioner Susan Waweru. Others present included Kenya Railways Inspector Joseph Wanyonyi, National Youth Service (NYS) Deputy Director Zacharia Mutua, KDF special projects boss Wanjohi Karanja, and Kisumu Marine Services Manager Mwalimu Disi.
Disi revealed that they have shipped 17 million litres of oil to Uganda using the oil rig tanks. The MV Uhuru has resumed voyages to Port Bell Jinja in Uganda and Mwanza ports in Tanzania.
According to Mutua, the NYS and KDF teams have been divided into two groups to refurbish the 216km rail. One group will start work from Nakuru and another team from Kisumu. The Kisumu team will handle 135km of the rail, while the Nakuru team will handle the remaining distance.
Kenya Railways is also set to hire 800 personnel during the construction phase of the old railway line, according to KR Managing Director Philip Mainga.
At its peak, MV Uhuru used to rake in as high as Sh2 million for every round trip to Mwanza in Tanzania and Port Bell in Uganda.
