Why Sh1.9b Coast floating bridge turned into a 'white elephant'

The once sturdy metals of the Liwatoni Floating Pedestrian Bridge (LFPB), hailed in 2020 as an engineering marvel, are sagging under the weight of sheer neglect at Liwatoni and Ras Bofu, Mombasa.

The steel beams that served thousands of pedestrians daily are now coated in rust, flaking like dried blood under the pounding of Indian Ocean waves.

Tourists—both local and international—who once flocked to the bridge have vanished. Shops that had sprung up to serve the daily tide of visitors have closed, leaving the area deserted.

“It is like we threw Sh1.9 billion down the drain into the ocean. This could be the biggest white elephant of modern times,” said Julius Ogogoh, Executive Director of the Centre for Litigation Trust.

At the height of the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, the government awarded China Road and Bridge Corporation a Sh1.9 billion tender to construct the 824-metre bridge, designed to reduce congestion and infection risks at the Likoni Ferry Channel. Completed in just five months, it was among Kenya’s most expensive non-motorised transport projects.

Designed for pedestrians, cyclists, persons with disabilities and emergency services, the bridge stretched roughly 800 metres, linking Liwatoni on Mombasa Island to Ras Bofu in Sultani, Likoni. Prefabricated steel sections were assembled on site, with a floating mid-section and a central opening to allow ships to pass through the narrow channel.

At the time, the government presented the project as a temporary solution until at least 2028, when plans for a permanent Likoni crossing would be finalised. Yet design changes quickly reduced its expected lifespan, and within three years the bridge faced closure.

Operational challenges were apparent soon after its launch. Critics argue that the ambitious project was rushed, with inadequate consideration of long-term usage patterns. The bridge’s design also restricted commercial vessels, drawing criticism from shipping lines that rely on the channel for import and export.

Andrew Mwangura, a maritime analyst, said the entrance at Kilindini Channel ranks among Africa’s most challenging navigation points. “The sharp bend and narrow deep-water passage demand exceptional skill from ship captains. The bridge was constructed without comprehensive ship collision risk analysis,” he said. 

Shipping delays were costly. The bridge operated during peak hours, leaving ships obstructed and incurring estimated costs of $38,000 (Sh4.9 million) per 24-hour delay, or $1,583 (Sh 204,140) per hour. For port stakeholders, efficient operation of the channel is crucial to regional economic stability, and the bridge was seen as a non-tariff barrier.

“The bridge compromised navigational safety and threatened local commerce and the livelihoods of multiple landlocked nations dependent on the port,” said Isabella Nyaga, a ship agent. “It was a knee-jerk reaction to Covid-19; blocking ships for four to ten hours was a bad decision.”

The bridge also raised security concerns on land. Gang activity in nearby Jamvi la Wageni, Harambee and Msufini targeted pedestrians and boda-boda riders transporting people to the bridge.

“There was not enough security at both Liwatoni and Bofu. Several people were robbed. Pedestrians decided to use the ferry despite delays,” said Jane Charo, a local resident 

At its peak, the bridge served around 200,000 pedestrians daily, reducing congestion at the Likoni Ferry. After Covid-19 restrictions eased, ferry traffic surged again, with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) now estimating 400,000 pedestrians and 6,000 vehicles daily. Due to pressure from shipping lines, the bridge was eventually decommissioned.

Responsibility for the bridge has been contested. Initially, KeNHA planned to oversee it, but operations were managed by KPA. .

President William Ruto announced last year that Sh100 billion had been secured to build a fixed bridge at Liwatoni, linking Likoni and Mombasa islands. The 69-metre-high Mombasa Gateway Bridge will span over 600 metres across the Likoni Channel, allowing vessels to pass underneath while vehicles move overhead.