This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
Kenya Ferry Services Chairman Dan Mwazo (in black) receiving a group of South African divers hired by the family of victims of the Likoni ferry tragedy.
The Likoni ferry tragedy recovery efforts have received a significant boost with the government acquiring new equipment to aid in the operations. The new equipment includes Advanced System Remote Operated Cameras, which will be used by the multi-agency team deployed in the ocean.
According to Kenya Navy officials, the new equipment will supplement the others that were being used in the last seven days. Col. Lawrence Gituma, the Kenya Navy official leading the operations, stated that the strategy now relies on the new equipment before sending human beings for verification down at the seabed.
The Monday recovery operations were delayed for several hours due to the presence of four big ships from the Indian Airforce carrying personnel who had arrived in the country for an exercise mission. Kenya Ferry Services Chairman Dan Mwanzo explained that the delay was caused by the Indian air force, who had to put their big four ships in order.
Meanwhile, the expected divers from South Africa who were hired by the family have arrived in the country. The family has hired a team of divers from Subsea of Subtech Group company in South Africa. Kenya Ferry Services Chairman Dan Mwanzo stated that they were waiting for the divers to arrive and were scheduled for a press briefing on the way forward.
The family received Sh2 million from Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho to help in paying the divers to aid in the operations. ODM leader Raila Odinga had called on the firms conducting dredging activities in the Indian Ocean waters to cease operations to allow the divers to locate the vehicle and the two bodies.
However, the companies seem to have defied his calls as they continue with their normal activities. The 35-year-old Mariam Kighenda and her four-year-old daughter Amanda Mutheu plunged into the Indian Ocean when their car slipped off MV Harambee ferry on September 29, 2019, in the evening.
