This archive report was first published on 7 December 2019.
On Saturday morning, John Mutinda's car plunged into the Indian Ocean, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. The incident occurred at around 4:20 am, and his body was retrieved four hours later.
According to his wife, Ruth Mutinda, John worked as a clearing agent in Mombasa and left their home at 4:00 am. However, he did not speak to anyone, including his wife, before leaving.
Kenya ferry managing director Bakari Gowa confirmed that a multi-agency team, comprising the Kenya navy and police, retrieved the body in about an hour. The vehicle, a maroon Toyota Alion with registration number KBX 475B, was 6 meters deep in the ocean.
As reported by Kenya ferry services, John Mutinda drove past the police check without paying the toll charges of Sh.120. The ferry staff approached the vehicle, but it drove past the pavement on the opposite side of the road, overlapping other vehicles that were parked on the waiting bay.
‘The ferry staff approached the vehicle, it drove past the pavement on the opposite side of the road overlapping other vehicles which were parked on the waiting bay. And as ramp controller stopped the vehicle the motorist defied the order, sped off and plunged in to the Indian Ocean’, read the statement.
John Mutinda left behind three sons, with the elder having completed form four. His family identified the body and conducted a small prayer service at the Jocham funeral home.
