This archive report was first published on 7 December 2019.
On December 7, 2019, a tragic incident occurred at the Likoni ferry channel in Mombasa County, Kenya, where a man's life was cut short in a bizarre incident.
John Mutinda, a 46-year-old clearing and forwarding agent, stormed out of his house in Vanga Estate, Likoni, at around 4am, clad in a pair of shorts only, and sped off in his vehicle.
According to eyewitnesses, Mr Mutinda looked disturbed and did not utter a word before driving off at high speed.
His wife, Ruth Mueni, had earlier complained to a neighbour that her husband was behaving strangely at around midnight.
Mr Mutinda drove straight into the sea at around 4.20am without paying for the ticket, almost running over a Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) official in the process.
According to his relative, Benard Kieti, Mr Mutinda had received a phone call from his late father before leaving the house in a huff.
"He was saying things that his wife could not comprehend when he left. The wife tried to stop him in vain," said Mr Kieti.
Kenya Navy divers retrieved the body at around 8am, and the vehicle was later pulled out of the ocean at midday by technicians from the Southern Engineering Ltd.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho condoled with Mutinda's family, urging ferry users and management to be cautious to avoid similar casualties.
