This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
On a fateful Saturday morning, John Mutinda, a 46-year-old man, drove his car into the Indian Ocean in the Likoni Channel, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and raising concerns about ferry safety.
According to eyewitnesses, Mutinda's car was pulled out of the water six meters under, just six hours after the incident, with the help of divers from the Kenya Navy.
At the time of the incident, none of the five vessels run by the Kenya Ferry Services were operational, and the ferry services resumed soon after, but the rescue mission took an hour and a half, sparking concerns about the efficiency of the rescue efforts.
Investigations have been opened to establish the circumstances that led to the tragedy, with security officials led by Mombasa County Commissioner Gilbert Gitiyo supervising the recovery mission.
As the country heads towards the festive season, the incident has exposed existing gaps in the safety of the ferry as well as motorised and non-motorised traffic, with some calling for the company currently contracted to manage the security of ferry users to step aside.
Published on December 8, 2019
