The first light hits the water in dull orange streaks. The ferry horns haven’t started yet, but the crowd is already milling around the busy Likoni crossing channel.
John Mwata Kimeru stands at the edge of the south ramp, radio clipped to his shoulder, boots planted wide. He doesn’t look at his phone. He looks at the huge crowd ready to start their day through the crossing channel.
Kimeru a former police officer began his journey on safety matters in the streets of Nairobi, he later resigned and joined Kenya ports Authority as , Security Operations Manager at Kenya Ports Authority,here he uses art work to create safety awareness among ferry users .
His biggest role is to senstize ferry users on the need for safety at the channel.
“One of my responsibilities as an enforcement officer.,is to create safety awareness I do this by using creative communication”,he said.
Kimeru also a member of the Protective and Safety Association of Kenya (PROSAK), and the International Police Association (IPA) observes that many accidents and incidents in public spaces happen due to lack of awareness.
” I have worked at the Ferry for several years. Working around the Ferry environment exposed me to daily safety risks that many people ignore, yet they can cause serious harm to others. I believe that creating awareness will help change behavior, promote responsibility and prevent injuries.,”he said.
His awareness is used in the digital space to encourage a stronger safety culture among the public.
“I use my social media platforms to senstize on the need for safety at the Likoni crossing channel , additionally through the loudspeakers at the channel,where I emphasize on the safety and security as everyone’s responsibility and awareness is the first step towards building safer communities.”he noted.
More than 300,000 pedestrians and 6,000 vehicles use the Likoni ferry crossing channel every day, making it one of the busiest in East Africa.
This critical lifeline connects Mombasa Island to the southern mainland, frequently operating over capacity leading to congestion.
During his five-day development tour in the coastal region, President William Ruto announced plans to introduce a new ferry at the channel by December.
According to the Head of State, the new ferry will be built in December this year at a cost of Ksh.3 billion.