This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
On October 16, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta made a bold move by revoking the appointments of all Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) board members in the wake of the Likoni Ferry tragedy.
The tragedy, which occurred on October 6, 2019, resulted in the loss of two lives when a car plunged into the Indian Ocean. The victims were identified as Mariam Kighenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu.
According to a gazette notice, President Kenyatta exercised his powers under the State Corporations Act to revoke the appointments of Dan Mwazo, Daula Omar, Naima Amir, Philip Ndolo, Rosina Nasigha Mruttu, as non-executive chairperson and members of Kenya Ferry Services Limited.
The move came as the family of the Likoni ferry tragedy victims announced plans to sue Kenya Ferry Services, citing the company's statement that compensation would only be sought through the courts.
Former Kenya Ferry Services Managing Director Bakari Gowa stated that the compensation issue would be difficult and that the family of the victims would have to hire a lawyer to represent them in court.
Kenya Ferry Services had earlier handed the victims' family Ksh200, 000 to cover funeral expenses, which Gowa clarified was not given as compensation for the tragedy.
