Kenya is manufacturing its second locally built ship. It will be a 29-metre-long vessel which is to build by the Kenya Shipyards Ltd.
The vessel is being built following the successful launch of MV Uhuru I, in 1965. Probably to be named as MV Uhuru II, the second vessel will primarily transport liquid cargo like petroleum and dry cargo such as cereals, fertilizers and seeds across Lake Victoria to neighboring countries like Uganda and Tanzania.
This new ship is an important upgrade which is capable of carrying 1800 tons of cargo and two million litres of crude oil per trip. The vessel can transport 22 wagons across the lake.
MV Uhuru II is expected to revolutionize maritime trade and transport in the East African region, that will enhance safety in lake transport and will promote auxiliary business and tourism and create job opportunities.
Construction of the MV Uhuru II demonstrates growing shipbuilding capabilities of Kenya and its commitment to harness local resources and talent.
To earmark this major milestone for emerging shipbuilding industry of Kenya, Defence Cabinet Secretary – Soipan Tuya and her Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs counterpart – Hassan Joho on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 presided over the keel laying company for the construction of a new ferry at Kisumu Shipyard.
The construction of the 29-metre shallow draught vessel is undertaken by Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) in conjunction with Karnafuly Ship Builders Limited for use by Kenya Ports Authority as Kenya’s first ever public ferry on Lake Victoria.
In her keynote address, the Defence Cabinet Secretary described the laying of the keel for the construction of Kenya’s second ship to be manufactured locally is a major milestone in Kenya’s ambition to become a continental shipbuilding hub.
“Most importantly, the successful completion of this vessel will herald a new dawn for shipbuilding in Kenya and lift to new levels our country’s growing profile as a regional industrial giant.”
“For Kenya’s budding shipbuilding industry specifically, this project is a perfect foundation upon which we will expand the shipbuilding portfolio, and accelerate our strategic push towards being a regional leader in shipbuilding and marine engineering,” said Tuya.
She commended KSL, a state corporation in the Ministry of Defence established in 2020, for commendable progress saying the institution’s growing portfolio of successful projects was a testament to the institution’s relevance to Kenya’s broad national development agenda.
“Kenya Shipyards achievements in recent years and months, aligns perfectly with the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) plan that seeks to create high value jobs and wealth by opening up new value chains,” added the Defence Cabinet Secretary.