This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
Likoni Ferry: A Common Accident or a Curse? ¶
For years, the Likoni ferry has been a subject of concern, with some attributing the frequent accidents to a curse. According to elderly men from the Kidigo community, the ferry is a sacred place where the spirits of the sea are appeased with a ritual sacrifice of a cow's blood.
They believe that if the ritual is not performed, the spirits will bring about accidents or drownings. This belief has been passed down for generations, and the elderly men have been performing the ritual for years.
However, the ritual has been neglected in recent years, and some are worried that the ferry is no longer safe. The recent accident involving a mother and her child who drowned in the ferry has raised concerns about the safety of the ferry.
According to a senior from the Kidigo community, the elderly men have been trying to revive the ritual, but it's been difficult due to the lack of resources and the changing times.
He said, 'Siku hizi hakuna wazee wa kutosha kujadili suala hili na hali ya uchumi pia umewalemea wengi hakuna mtu wakati huu anaweza kujitolea kutoa ng'ombe ama kuongeza mchango wake kwa sababu ya tambiko kama zama zetu.'
The ferry has a long history of accidents, with the most recent one being the 1994 Mtongwe ferry disaster that killed over 270 people. The ferry has also been involved in several other accidents, including the 1986 incident where a ferry sank after a person was thrown into the water.
Despite the efforts of the authorities to improve the safety of the ferry, the accidents continue to occur. The recent accident has raised concerns about the safety of the ferry and the need for the authorities to take action to prevent such incidents in the future.
As one of the passengers who was on the ferry during the accident said, 'Siku moja, yapata miaka minne hivi iliyopita, nilikuwa ndani ya feri yapata mwendo wa saa mbili unusu usiku. Haya ni masaa ambayo ukiwa unatokea bara ya Likoni kuelekea kisiwani Mombasa, huwa hamna abiria wengi kama ilivyo kutoka upande wa kisiwani.'
The ferry has been a subject of concern for many years, and it's time for the authorities to take action to prevent such incidents in the future.
