This archive report was first published on 27 December 2019.
Navy Abandons Stranded Fishermen, Insider Offers Explanation ¶
On December 26, 2019, eight fishermen were rescued after being stranded at sea for nine days. The fishermen alleged that Kenya Navy patrol officers found them but refused to provide assistance, including food and water.
According to the fishermen, the Navy officers, dressed in sparkling uniforms, refused to give them water, leaving them to survive on raw fish and salty ocean water until they were rescued.
A senior soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that in such situations, patrol officers consider everyone they encounter as a potential enemy and may be armed and dangerous. This is particularly true in deep-sea waters.
The soldier, Muthee, suggested that the fishermen may not have identified themselves properly, which could have led the Navy officers to leave them behind. He also noted that the boat may not have been able to carry the additional weight of the fishermen, citing the risk of capsizing.
However, the Navy's actions have been widely criticized, with many questioning why the officers couldn't provide basic assistance, such as food and water, to the stranded fishermen.
As one Facebook user noted, 'In one year alone, Kenya Navy failed to rescue a sinking mother and baby, shot and killed an unarmed boda boda rider, and abandoned dehydrated fishermen at sea.'
Watch Video: Courtesy Citizen TV
