This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
On October 1, 2019, a tragic incident occurred in the Likoni Channel, Mombasa County, when a car plunged into the Indian Ocean with two passengers onboard. The incident has sparked a massive rescue operation, with a multi-agency team comprising of the Kenya Navy, KPA, Kenya Fisheries Research Institute (KEFRI), and Private Contracted Divers working tirelessly to retrieve the vehicle.
According to the Kenya Ferry Services, transport along the Likoni Channel has been halted as divers begin the search for the bodies. The ferry service has warned ferry users to expect delays of up to one hour due to the ongoing exercise.
The family of the victims, Mariam Kigenda and her daughter Amanda Wambua, has expressed frustration with the delay in retrieving the bodies. The family has even considered hiring private divers to retrieve the bodies, citing the inaction of the Kenya Ferry Services officials.
Kenya Ferry Services Managing Director Bakari Gowa explained that the vehicle had sunk 60m deep, making it difficult to retrieve without specialized equipment. The family's sister, Catherine Wanjala, expressed her disappointment with the officials' response, stating that they were behaving as if nothing had happened.
