This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
Published on October 11, 2019, the government is under pressure to retrieve the bodies of a mother and daughter who drowned in the Indian Ocean after their vehicle plunged in two weeks ago.
The Kenya Navy and a team mandated to retrieve the car and bodies are racing against time to avoid an embarrassment on Mashujaa Day celebrations, which are drawing closer.
Locals and the family have accused the team of taking too long to retrieve the vehicle, despite government assurances that it would be brought out on Thursday.
"We have been here from 9am. We were assured that we will get the bodies today (Thursday) evening, but we are yet to see anything," said Luka Mbati, the family spokesperson.
The vehicle, a Toyota Isis, slid off the MV Harambee ferry on the evening of September 29, exposing inefficiencies and security risks in the ferry operations.
Witnesses said there was no attempt by any emergency team to rescue the two, with onlookers watching helplessly as the vehicle sank with Mariam Kigenda, 35, and her 4-year-old daughter Amanda Mutheu.
