MV Uhuru II: Kenya's first locally made ship makes maiden trip from Kisumu port

MV Uhuru II, the first cargo ship to be built on Kenyan soil, has made its maiden trip, transporting steel cargo to Uganda.

Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the Kisumu Shipyard Limited on Thursday, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya indicated the significance of the milestone, which she says places Kenya ahead in terms of shipbuilding.

The ship is expected to enhance the cargo capacity of the Kisumu port, which recorded a cargo throughput of 127,000 tonnes in 2023.

The Ksh.2.4 billion ship was built at the Kenya Shipyard in Kisumu by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) with technical support from the Dutch company Damen.

"MV Uhuru II represents the strategic vision of our maritime sector. She is a step towards realizing our goals of improving regional connectivity, enhancing trade routes, and positioning ourselves in the East African maritime landscape," stated Tuya.

On his part, Transport CS Davis Chirchir praised the operation of the ship, which has been designed to transport both petroleum products and dry cargo, with a loading capacity of 1,063 tonnes per trip.

The trip signifies Kenya’s bid to reclaim its position as the prime hub for maritime transport in the East African Community.

"MV Uhuru II will not only support Kenya’s development under Vision 2030 but will also strengthen its role in economic integration in East Africa by linking the northern corridor and the southern corridor," he noted.

Kenya Railways Corporation M ,Philip Mainga added: "Our projections for MV Uhuru II by 2025 are to make at least three voyages per week to Jinja, Port Bell, and Mwanza. We expect to improve our tonnage."

In 2023, the Kisumu port had a cargo throughput of 127,000 metric tonnes. The entry of MV Uhuru II is expected to further increase the port’s prospects and offer more employment opportunities.