PIDG support has enabled Waterbus to expand its fleet of safe, reliable passenger ferries serving communities on the shores and islands of Lake Victoria. With PIDG funding, Waterbus has been able to build additional vessels at its Kisumu shipyard, driving local employment and opening up new routes.
Clementina Agabo is a 70-year-old retired teacher and shop owner who lives on Mfangano Island, Kenya. Waterbus ferries enable her to receive deliveries directly to her shop, saving her from heavy lifting. They also enable her to visit her family on the mainland. She says, “The Waterbus service has been a blessing. Before the service arrived, we faced dangerous boat rides on Lake Victoria. Accidents were common, and many people lost goods.”
John Ongiro lives on the shores of Lake Victoria and recalls dangerous journeys before the Waterbus vessels arrived. “Before Waterbus started serving our community, travel across the lake was fraught with danger. Small, overcrowded boats often faced tragic accidents during bad weather, leaving families in grief.”
Both John and Clementina note the changes they have seen for the safety of young girls in particular, John said, “For schoolgirls, the journey to school was unsafe, with reports of harassment and assault, further discouraging education for young women.”
Clementina agreed, “it was hard for children to attend school, causing many to drop out. Young girls were often put at risk during unsafe journeys…This new, safe, reliable form of transport is helping our students to stay in school and is making life easier for everyone. With safer travel, girls no longer face the dangers they once did.”
For John and his neighbours, Waterbus is more than just a transport service—it is a symbol of hope and progress. “In emergencies, the Waterbus crew ensures that sick individuals receive prompt care, with the vessel often acting as a lifeline to nearby hospitals. Schoolgirls now travel without fear, as Waterbus provides a secure environment for all passengers.”
Support from PIDG – through its project development solution, InfraCo – has enabled Waterbus to build three new vessels, enabling the company to ply new routes across the Lake, including one cross-border route linking Kenya and Uganda. The vessels have piloted the use of solar-boost technology to maximise fuel-efficiency. Funding from PIDG technical assistance has been used to improve the jetties and landing sites to ensure customer safety as they embark and disembark the vessels.
Clementina concluded, “The introduction of Waterbus has brought a profound transformation to the region. With its strong vessels and professional crew, the service offers a safe, reliable, and dignified mode of transport.”
