This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
Published on October 2, 2019, the Likoni Ferry tragedy has left a family waiting for over 80 hours for the recovery of their loved ones. Mariam Kigenda, 35, and her four-year-old daughter Amanda Mutheu were among the victims who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Government Spokesperson Col (rtd) Cyrus Oguna has called on patience, stating that robots will be used to locate the bodies due to poor visibility. The recovery team has searched five locations without success and are yet to comb nine more areas.
According to Oguna, the divers are relying on touch and interpretation to locate the vehicle, with the robots directing them where to touch and go. He also emphasized the importance of patience, stating that the operation is not as easy as it seems from a layman's point of view.
However, the Managing Director of Kenya Ferry services, Bakari Gowa, has a different account, stating that they had already located the vehicle in two suspect areas at 23 and 53 metres deep. Private divers hired by the family also disputed the government's claims, stating that they had neither located the car nor the bodies.
The private divers, led by Moses Sila, had a confrontation with the government, with the police accusing them of sabotaging the operation. However, the Managing Director of Haki Africa, Hussein Khalid, intervened and the team was allowed to continue with the recovery mission in a joint search with the Kenya Navy.
The operation remains suspended to allow the divers time to refresh and will resume at Wednesday 3 pm. The government has also emphasized the importance of safety, stating that the activities of the Likoni Ferry channel have contributed to the delay of the recovery mission.
