Infrastructure

State Moves Forward With Sh5.8bn Likoni Cable Car Plan

Likoni Cable Express to be built under a public-private partnership.

Updated on

November 11, 2021

Aerial cable cars in Hong Kong. PHOTO | COURTESY

Kenya plans to launch the long-awaited Likoni Cable Car project by April next year after securing land for the venture connecting Mombasa Island with the South Coast.

The Sh5.8 billion project was approved by the Cabinet in August 2018 but failed to take off amid turf wars between Kenya Ferry Services and the Kenya National Highways Authority.

According to the plans, the Likoni Cable Car project will involve the erection of a Multi-Gondola Aerial Cable Car link for the Likoni Cable Car Crossing, linking the South Coast mainland to Mombasa Island.

The cable system will be carried by two 90-metre towers located on each side of the crossing – which will allow maritime vessels to pass freely under the facility.

The express link will have 22 cable cars carrying a maximum of 11,000 passengers per hour in both directions, which translates to about 180,000 passengers per day.

The Likoni cable cars will cross the channel in 3 minutes and 40 seconds.

Project sponsors

In December 2017, Tropos Limited, a Nairobi-based aerial transit development company and the sponsors of the project signed an agreement with KFS for the project.

Accordingly, the Austrian company Doppelmayr Group – which manufactures ropeways, cable cars, and ski lifts – was hired by the parties to set up the Likoni Cable Car system.

C&C Construction Company was to be in charge of erecting two 90-metre masts and building the landing stations for the cable car system.

The service was to be operational by mid-2020, with Likoni Cable Cars Express Ltd expected to run the facility for 25 years, after which KFS would upgrade, maintain and ensure service delivery to users.

Years later, the project is yet to take off.

On Friday, the National Land Commission (NLC) reserved 0.85 acres for the project that is expected to replace the ferry and Liwatoni Floating Bridge operations.

In a gazette notice dated November 5, NLC chairman Gershom Otachi directed the Kenya Ports Authority to develop the land within six months failing which it will revert to its owners.

“(KPA) shall within 180 days of publishing of this reservation order cause to be prepared and submit to NLC for approval a plan for the development management and use of the reserved land failure to which the management orders will stand revoked,” said the gazette notice.

However, KPA shall only be allowed to hold the use of the reserve land for the specified purposes of the Likoni Cable Car and ancillary services only.