This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
On October 5, 2019, Raila Odinga, the AU High Representative for Infrastructure, accompanied by CS for Infrastructure Eng James Macharia, Navy Operations Commander Lawrence Gatuma, and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, visited Likoni to oversee the recovery efforts of Mariam Kighenda and her four-year-old daughter who perished in the Indian Ocean.
During the visit, Odinga ordered the dredging of Likoni channel to be halted immediately to ensure there is no interference with the recovery exercise. He emphasized the need for the agencies involved to have enough working space.
“I want to give an order here that the dredging works stop immediately so that those who are working here can work without interference,” Raila said.
The dredging exercise was being conducted to widen and deepen the channel to allow bigger ships to dock at the Mombasa port. However, the exercise was interfering with the recovery efforts, with divers complaining of poor visibility in the ocean due to the mud being stirred.
Despite the challenges, Odinga expressed satisfaction with the recovery efforts being undertaken, stating, “The team is capable of doing the necessary retrieval.”
He also condoled with the family, saying, “We say pole to the family. The entire Kenyan nation is in mourning.”
