This archive report was first published on 30 October 2019.
On Tuesday, a passenger's mobile phone caught fire on the MV Harambee ferry in Likoni, sparking a momentary panic.
The incident occurred at 9:00 am when the passenger attempted to open the phone's cover, causing the battery to burst into flames.
Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, although the man sustained minor injuries while throwing the phone into the Indian Ocean.
According to a statement by the Kenya Ferry Services, their staff and police on board responded promptly to the incident, and police investigations are ongoing.
The incident comes as a Senate report highlighted the poor condition of the five ferries operated by the Kenya Ferry Services, including the MV Harambee, which was found to lack functional ramps and be in contravention of International Safety Management (ISM) regulations.
The report also accused the Kenya Ferry Services of operating decommissioned ferries, including the MV Harambee, MV Nyayo, and MV Kilindini.
