This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
On October 7, 2019, a devastating incident occurred when a vehicle on the MV Harambee ferry plunged into the Indian Ocean, resulting in the tragic loss of Mariam Kighenda and her four-year-old daughter Amanda Mutheu.
The bodies of the mother and child remained underwater for 13 days before being recovered on Friday afternoon.
Initial investigations revealed that the ignition keys of the station wagon were off, but the windshield wipers were found to be on, and the gear was in parking mode when the car was pulled out of the ocean.
However, this incident has highlighted concerns about the safety of ferry operations in Kenya, particularly with regards to the stability of the pulleys and prows designed to protect passengers and motorists.
As far back as 2016/2017, Auditor General Edward Ouko had warned about the defective pulleys on most ferries, which can cause the plows to be submerged in water, endangering both pedestrians and motorists.
Furthermore, the Kenya Ferry Services has not insured all ferries for third-party liability, which means that the family of Kighenda will not be compensated for their loss.
