Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Mbita Town

RESIDENTS of Suba region have good reason to smile following the arrival of bigger and ultra-modern newly built ferry now plying the Mbita Channel from Luanda Kotieno in Uyoma, Rarieda to Mbita Point.

The arrival of MV Uzinza is a blessing to the residents of both Mbita and Gwassi districts.It will make travelling across the narrow waterway from Luanda Kotieno in Uyoma, Rarieda district within Siaya County across the Nyanza Gulf {formerly Kavirondo Gulf}to Mbita Point in Mbita district within the Homa-Bay County.

The Mbita Channel is a vital economic route for the residents of low laying locations within the two districts as ell as to the two major fishing Islands of Rusinga and Mfangano.

Mbita point is also the getaway point to tourists destined to the nearby Ruma National Game Park in Lambwe Valley and also further to the pre-historic rich sites in neighboring Gwassi district.

The passengers travelling on to Mfangano Island may now make an easy connection to small boats plying Mbita-Point Mfangano. The happiest lots are the traders who get their supplies shop goods and other cargo from wholesaler’s shops and major distributors in Kisumu.

MV Uzinza is capable of carrying 30 small cars and up to up 150 passengers. It is expected to easy congestion and scrambling, which were being experienced by travels, forcing some the to leave their vehicle on the other side of the Channel as the previous Ferry could not lift more than 8 vehicles causing also of inconveniences to the public.

The scrambles are usually common phenomenon during holidays and Christmas festivities when many residents of the region returns home from towns like Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kericho, Nakuru and other urban centers outside Nyanza. Similar congestion were witnessed particularly during funerals of prominent men and women, when hundred s of mourners got stranded at either side of the crossing points. Such scrambles will now be things of the past. The happiest lots included the fish traders and cattle dealers from both sides.

With the completion of the tarmac king of the multimillion shillings Homa-Bay Mbita road and the envisaged construction of Mbita-Sindo-Magunga, Laknyiero and Sori road businessmen and farmers in the agricultural rich Gwassi will in the near future enjoy their sweat because they will making easy access to the market for their farm products.

The government earmarked plan for he construction of the above mention ring road around the shoreline of Lake Victoria were made public for the first time by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga when he addressed a huge crowd of mourners during the burial of former Kenya’s Permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Michael Okeyo Owuor at his Kaswanga village home in Rusinga Island, adding that with the availability of fund the road could cross into Nyatike district winding up in Muhuru Bay.

The time for traveling between Luanda-Kotieno in Uyoma on the mainland and Mbita has been cut short nearly by half short following the recent construction of the ultra modern road from Ndori to Luanda Kotieno and motorist driving fro Kisumu to Mbita could now reach Luanda Kotieno within 40 minutes or an hour time depending on the size of the engine of the vehicle one is using.

The introduction of the ultra-modern Ferry on this route and the completion of modern highways between Homa-Bay and Mbit and between Ndori and Luanda-Kotieno n the mainland Uyoma now fulfill the long cherished dream of the late Mr. Tom Mboya had predicted many years ago that this region at one time would be a potential tourists attraction under the forty years Western Kenya Tourists Circuit

MV Uzinza is a milestone investment by a private firm called Mbita Ferries Limited, which is a business flagship of a youthful entrepreneur Mr Sammy Wakiaga of Rusinga Island who is also involved in other chain of businesses both in Nyanza and Nairobi.

Ends

Photo of MV Uzinza as it cruises the waterway from Mbita on its way to Luanda Kotieno.The Ferry was welcomed with enthusiasm by the residents ho gathered in their hundreds to welcome it on both sides of the Mbita Channel